AIM:Gallstone disease is increasing in sub-saharan Africa (SSA).In the west,the majority of stones can be dissolved with bilesalts,since the major component is cholesterol.This medicaltherapy is expensive and not readily accessible to poorpopulations of SSA.It was therefore necessary to analyze thechemical composition of biliary stones in a group of patients,so as to make the case for introducing bile salt therapy in SSA.METHODS:All patients with symptomatic gallstoneswere recruited in the study.All stones removed duringcholecystectomy were sent to Houston for x-ray diffractionanalysis.Data on age,sex,serum cholesterol,and thepercentage by weight of cholesterol,calcium carbonate,andamorphous material in each stone was entered into a pre-established proforma.Frequencies of the major componentsof the stones were determined.RESULTS:Sixteen women and ten men aged between 27and 73 (mean 44.9) years provided stones for the study.The majority of patients (65.38%) had stones with less than25% of cholesterol.Amorphous material made up more than50% and 100% of stones from 16 (61.53%) and 9 (34.61%)patients respectively.CONCLUSION:Cholesterol is present in small amounts ina minority of gallstones in Yaounde.Dissolution of gallstoneswith bile salts is unlikely to be successful. AIM: Gallstone disease is increasing in sub-saharan Africa (SSA) .In the west, the majority of stones can be dissolved with bilesalts, since the major component is cholesterol. This medical treatment is expensive and not be accessible to poorpopulations of SSA.It was therefore necessary to analyze the chemical composition of biliary stones in a group of patients, so as to make the case for introducing bile salt therapy in SSA.METHODS: All patients with symptomatic gallstoneswere recruited in the study. All stones removed duringcholecystectomy were sent to Houston for x-ray diffraction analysis. Data on age, sex, serum cholesterol, and the percentage of weight of cholesterol, calcium carbonate, and amorphous material in each stone was entered into a pre-established proforma. Frequencies of the major components of the stones are determined. : Sixteen women and ten men aged between 27 and 73 (mean 44.9) years provided stones for the study. Majority majority patients (65.38%) had stones with less than 25% of cholesterol.Amorphous material made up more than 50% and 100% of stones from 16 (61.53%) and 9 (34.61%) patients respectively.CONCLUSION: Cholesterol is present in small amounts ina minority of gallstones in Yaounde. Dissolution of gallstones with bile salts is unlikely to be successful.