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.