A diagnostic technique for acalculous cholecystitis

Routine oral cholecystography with Telepaque frequently will show normal visualization of the gallbladder in the presence of acalculous cholecystitis and cholesterolosis. Roentgenograms of the abdomen that show persistent opacification of the gallbladder 36 hours after the administration of Telepaque are suggestive of cholecystic disease. Twenty-six patients with previously normal cholecystograms but with continuing symptoms of biliary tract disease were studied with 24 hour delayed films of the gallbladder. All had persistent visualization of the gallbladder, and all had diseased gallbladders verified at operation and by pathologic examination.