Ultrasound and false normal oral cholecystogram

Although oral cholecystography is a highly accurate investigation for the diagnosis of gallbladder disease, false normal examinations do occur. In other patients, the presence of jaundice, nausea, or vomiting may preclude oral cholecystography. When there is clinical suspicion of gallbladder disease with a normal or equivocal oral cholecystogram, ultrasound examination is a highly accurate alternative imaging procedure. We describe in this article three patients with apparently normal oral cholecystography who were found to have obvious gallstones on ultrasound examination and at surgery. The relative accuracy of these diagnostic procedures is reviewed and their place in the diagnosis of biliary tract disease is discussed.