Cyclic Deposition of Calcium Salts During Growth of Cholesterol Gallstones

Authors

Peter F. Malet, University of Pennsylvania
Norman E. Weston, Micron, Inc.
Bruce W. Trotman, University of Pennsylvania
Roger D. Soloway, University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

Some cholesterol gallstones contain darkly pigmented centers or peripheral concentric pigmented bands. We examined the cross-sectional surface of three cholesterol gallstones which contained both central and peripheral pigmented areas with electron-probe microanalysis (EPM) and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (EDXA) to determine the elemental composition of the pigmented regions. Linear EPM across the cross-sectional surface of the stones demonstrated that most of the pigmented regions of all three stones had high Ca and P signals; the nonpigmented intervening areas had markedly lower or no detectable Ca and P signals. In two of the three stones, high O signals coincided with the high Ca and P signals suggesting that both calcium bilirubinate and calcium phosphate were present in these pigmented areas. EDXA of the central and peripheral pigmented areas of each stone confirmed the presence of a high Ca signal. Our results demonstrate that in some cholesterol gallstones there is cyclic deposition of calcium bilirubinate and other calcium salts.

Recommended Citation

Malet, Peter F.; Weston, Norman E.; Trotman, Bruce W.; and Soloway, Roger D. (1985) "Cyclic Deposition of Calcium Salts During Growth of Cholesterol Gallstones," Scanning Electron Microscopy: Vol. 1985: No. 2, Article 25.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/electron/vol1985/iss2/25