[The lithiasis of the gall bladder, a stepchild of the diagnosis of the epigastrium? (author's transl)].

An anamnestic questionnaire project at a hospital for gastroenterological diseases has proved, that in 100 patients cholelithiasis after a cholecystectomy was not diagnosed at first. In more than two thirds of the preliminary diagnoses (69.8 p.c.) stomach was concerned. The therapy required in these cases took 7.9 years on an average. Generally it took 12.6 years of complaints from the first symptom until cholecystectomy was performed. Even when cholelithiasis was diagnosed, the operation was not decided upon until 6.8 years had passed on an average. For the most part the patient himself delayed the operation. According to the patients questioned, chronic pancreatitis was the disease most frequent following cholecystectomy. Reasons for errors in diagnosis of epigastric pain are discussed. The undoubted value of early cholecystectomy is emphasized.