Biliary system

Abstract

The history of biliary tract disease extends over 3500 years, but the birth of modern-day surgical intervention occurred little more than a century ago. Early Egyptians were aware of the liver and biliary system and assigned these organs significance for divining future events. The oldest recorded case of gallstones was in the mummified remains of the Princess of Amenen from Thebes, circa 1500 bc. At the time of her death, her well-preserved gallbladder contained at least 30 gallstones. © 2008 Springer New York.