MELİS CEVHERTAŞ, ÜLGEN ÇELTİK, TUFAN KEÇECİ, AHMET ÇELİK, MUSTAFA ORKAN ERGÜN
The Journal of Pediatric Research - 2025;12(2):60-65
Aim The widespread use of ultrasound imaging has increased detection rate of gallstones (GSs) in the pediatric age group. However, their etiology remains unclear in some patients. GS analysis of patients who had undergone cholecystectomy in our department were reviewed and the relationships of etiological factors were evaluated. Materials and Methods The records of those patients who had undergone cholecystectomy for GS disease in our clinic between November, 2006 and April, 2024 were reviewed retrospectively and demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and stone analysis results were obtained. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS Cholecystectomy was performed on a total of 335 patients during the given period. Data for stone analysis were available for 184 patients (105 females, 79 males). The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 10.89 (±5.1) years. Stone analysis revealed calcium bilirubinate stones in 104 (56.5%), cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate (mixed) stones in 67 (36.4%), and cholesterol stones in 15 patients (8.1%). A statistically significant difference was found when stone types were analysed by gender (female/male: 105/79; p<0.015). The etiologic factor for GS formation was identified in 56 patients (30.43%); 31 had haemolytic disease and calcium bilirubinate stones were significantly more common in those patients (p=0.006). Additionally, when the weight percentiles for age were evaluated for the 125 patients (67.9%) with available weight data, it was found that cases with cholesterol stones had significantly higher weight percentiles (>90th percentile, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION In our series, cholesterol stones were more common in overweight children, while calcium bilirubinate stones were more common in those with haemolytic diseases. It appears that the composition of the stones can provide clues into understanding the etiology of cholelithiasis.
