[Gallstone dyspepsia--a myth?]

Gallstones accompanied by dyspeptic symptoms, were long not considered to be silent. The complaints were thought to be caused by the gallstones, and were termed gallstone dyspepsia. Up to 47% of all cholecystectomies are performed for dyspeptic symptoms. Numerous control studies have, however, all demonstrated that dyspeptic symptoms in stone carriers and controls with no gallstones occur with equally frequency, and that it is not possible to differentiate gallstone-specific dyspepsia. The frequent concomitance of dyspepsia and gallstones, is coincidental, and there is no causality involved. Thus, gallstones accompanied by dyspepsia must be considered silent stones. Not the silent gallstone, but gallstone dyspepsia is the myth.