Western diseases in developing peoples: in search of a 'marker'.

Phleboliths were sought in pelvic radiographs of some 1 500 patients of whom about half were White and half were Black. A marked difference was found, and many more phleboliths occured in the White group. It may be that the younger group of Blacks exhibit more phleboliths than do the older folk. Phleboliths may be found to serve as a 'marker' for a developing Western pattern of diseases.