Clinical analysis of relationship between gallstone morphology and biliary pancreatitis

Objective To investigate the relationship between gallstone morphology and acute pancreatitis. Methods A total of 110 patients with biliary pancreatitis, who were admitted to our hospital from February 2011 to February 2013, were selected as pancreatitis group, while 110 patients with gallstones were selected as non- pancreatitis group. The sizes, number, shapes, and textures of gallstones were compared between the two groups, and the relationship between gallstone morphology and pancreatitis was analyzed. Comparison between groups was made by chi- square test. Results There were significant differences in the sizes, number, and shapes of gallstones between the pancreatitis group and non- pancreatitis group ( χ2= 41. 146, 27. 150, and 13. 839, P < 0. 01 for all comparisons) . Stone texture also showed significant difference between the two groups ( χ2= 8. 000, P < 0. 05) . Of the patients with mild acute pancreatitis, 66. 36% had gallstone sizes of < 3 mm, and 17. 89% had gallstone sizes of 3- 10 mm; of the patients with severe acute pancreatitis, 86. 67% had gallstone sizes of < 3 mm, and 13. 33% had gallstone sizes of 3- 10 mm. Conclusion Among the patients with gallstones, those who have small, multiple, soft, and brittle stones have an increased incidence of pancreatitis; the decrease in stone sizes leads to an increasing trend in the severity of pancreatitis.