Gallbladder disease in children and adolescents

A 20-year experience with gallbladder disease in 85 children and adolescents was reviewed. Sixty-five patients had idiopathic cholelithiasis and cholecystitis (group I); 20 patients had cholelithiasis and cholecystitis secondary to a predisposing disease or other pathologic diagnoses (group II). For group I patients, 100% were greater than age 12, 92.3% were female, 60% were overweight, 20% had a positive family history, and 27.7% had had a previous pregnancy. For group II patients, 60% were less than age 13, 45% were female, 15% were overweight, 5% had a positive family history, and none had previously been pregnant. Symptomatology in group I, but not group II, patients matched that seen in adults. Group I, but not group II, patients experienced delays in diagnosis. These data indicate that children and adolescents with gallbladder disease constitute two distinct populations and that idiopathic cholelithiasis and cholecystitis must be considered as a potential cause of chronic abdominal pain in otherwise healthy adolescents.