Biliary Lithiasis in Dar Es Salaam

SUMMARY Between January 1978 and December 1983, 232 radiological investigations of the biliary system were performed. Among them were, oral cholecystography (O.C.G.) 177 cases (76.3%), intravenous cholangiography (I.V.C.) 33 cases (14.2%), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (P.T.C.) 17 cases (7.3%). Others were operative cholangiography (OPG) 2 cases (0.9%) and T‐tube cholangiography 3 cases (1.3%). Of the 232 investigations, 178 (76.7%) were normal. Biliary stones were established in 17 cases (7.3%), of which 7 stones were radiolucent, 5 stones were opaque, while the remaining 5 were unspecified. Other findings include extrahepatic block of the drainage system, congenital anomalies and suspected gall bladder stricture accounted for 37 cases (16%). As in Uganda biliary lithiasis is rare with no sex predeliction.