title: Kinevac-assisted cholescintigraphy as an accurate predictor of chronic acalculus gallbladder disease and the likelihood of symptom relief with cholecystectomy.
abstract: Thirty patients with chronic upper abdominal pain and no evidence of cholelithiasis were entered into this study. All had negative ultrasonography of the gallbladder, and most had a host of other negative investigations. These patients were referred to a surgeon to evaluate the possibility of atypical biliary colic associated with chronic acalculous cholecystitis. All patients underwent cholecystokinin-stimulated cholescintigraphy and were offered cholecystectomy if the ejection fraction was less than 35 per cent. Of the 30 patients, 27 (90%) had pathologically abnormal gallbladders. Follow-up averaged over 1 year (13.2 mo), and relief of symptoms occurred in 28 (94%). The authors conclude that in appropriately selected patients with symptoms of biliary colic (typical or atypical) and no evidence of cholelithiasis, a cholecystokinin-stimulated cholescintigram is a significant help in predicting not only which patients have gallbladder disease, but also how likely cholecystectomy is to result in an improvement in their symptoms.
authors: Department of Surgery, University Affiliated Hospitals of Flint, Michigan.
authors: D N
authors: DN
authors: Reed
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fernandez
authors: R D
authors: RD
authors: Hicks
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D002765:Cholecystography; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012844:Sincalide
chemical_list: D012844:Sincalide