Cholecystitis in childhood was first reported in 1722 by Gibson. Little was subsequently written on this disease until Potter1 reviewed the subject in 1938. Ulin, Nosal, and Martin2 in 1952 reviewed cases in the literature up to 1948. They also reviewed 30 cases of cholecystitis in children 15 years of age or younger which they selected out of 43 reported during the period 1938-1948. Only cases which contained proof of the presence of disease in the gallbladder as shown by gross and microscopic examination were included in their series.
After a review of the literature it can be concluded that cholecystitis in children is an uncommon disease. However, the number of cases diagnosed each year appears to be growing steadily, and the present day success in treating this lesion makes important its recognition.3 Cholelithiasis is also rare but commer than acute cholecystitis. However, common duct stones in