Computed tomography inpredicting gall stone solubility: aprospective trial

Thisprospective study was undertaken to evaluate thecorrelation betweendensitometric values ofgall stonesassessed bycomputedtomography andthesuccess rateof litholytic therapy in28patients eligible fororal treatment. Adensitometric study ofthestones was performed inall patients before treatment. Acutoffpoint of60Hounsfield units (HU)was chosen todivide thesubjects into twogroups group 1,14patients withlowdensity stones ( 60HU).Allpatients were treated withursodeoxycholic acid (8-10 mg/kgt day)for12monthsandfollowed up byultrasound. Ingroup1,dissolution was complete in 50%ofthepatients andpartial inafurther 20%. Ingroup2patients, complete dissolution was notobserved but33%showedpartial dissolution. Thenumberofpatients withtotal dissolutionat12months was significantly higher in group 1 compared withgroup 2 (p<002). Theseresults suggestthatcomputed tomography can beusedtoselect patients with a better likelihood ofsuccessful stonedissolution after bile acidtherapy.