Cyclic deposition of calcium salts during growth of cholesterol gallstones
Some cholesterol gallstones contain darkly pigmented centers or peripheral concentric pigmented bands. The authors 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 non-pigmented 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.
- Research Organization:
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
- OSTI ID:
- 6333977
- Journal Information:
- Scanning Electron Microsc.; (United States), Vol. 2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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