Cholelithiasis and cholecystitis in pre-Columbian Chileans.

Two cases of gallbladder disease found in Chilean mummies are presented. The cholesterol gallstones in these cases produced in one individual a localized peritonitis and in the other a probable duct obstruction. No cases of this disease have been seen in Peruvian mummies while in Chile it seems quite common, suggesting some environmental factor in the etiology.