Infusion cholecystography in the early diagnosis of acute gallbladder disease

The value of infusion cholecystography 99mTc HIDA cholescintigraphy and ultrasonography was compared in 51 patients presenting with a clinical diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Of the 35 patients with proven gallbladder disease, the presence of gallstones was correctly predicted in 31 (88 per cent) by infusion cholecystography, 32 (90 per cent) by 99mTc HIDA cholescintigraphy and 27 (77 per cent) by ultrasonography. There were no false positive investigations. Infusion cholecystography may be of particular interest to surgeons with no ready access to isotope scanning techniques.