Gallstone Disease And Gallbladder Cancer In Chile: Two Strategies

Abstract

In Chile, cancer of the biliary tract is the main cause of death among all cancers affecting women. In this paper, the epidemiology of this disease and of its main precursor condition, biliary lithiasis, is analyzed. On the basis of the many studies of these conditions published in the country, it is accepted that cholecistectomy in symptomatic cases, at a relatively early age, is at present the only effective measure for preventing gallbladder cancer and the other serious complications of long standing biliary lithiasis. On this basis, and using the available epidemiological evidence, a concrete proposal is formulated for the control of these conditions. There is a great difference between the intensities of these problems in the north and the south of the country; it is argued that this fact shoud be utilized as the starting point of research on the causal factors of biliary lithiasis. The results might help in setting up a primary prevention program for this problem and for biliary cancer.