[Prevalence of vesicular lithiasis in hospitalized patients in Curitiba: ultrasonographic evaluation].

The prevalence of gallstones was determined in Curitiba. A total of 384 patients older than 20 years of age was randomly selected from four general hospitals and subjected to ultrasonographic examination of the gallbladder. Of the 384 patients, 327 had normal gallbladder (85.2%) and 57 (14.8%) had gallstones (48 patients) or had been previously subjected to cholecystectomy due to gallstones (9 patients). Six out of the 48 patients with gallstones referred biliary colic (12.5%). Gallstone prevalence increased with age and number of pregnancies.