Cholecystography is an x-ray examination of the gallbladder (bladder). Thanks to cholecystography, it is possible to visualize the gallbladder and detect many diseases, e.g. urolithiasis or inflammation. Check what is cholecystography and what are the indications for its performance.

Cholecystographyis an X-ray examination of the gallbladder (bladder). Cholecystography was once considered the primary test to be performed when cholelithiasis was suspected. Currently, it is rarely used because it has a low diagnostic value. Currently, in the case of gallbladder diseases, ultrasound (USG) of the bile ducts (hepatobiliary ultrasound) is performed. This test does not use radiation, does not need to provide contrast, and can be repeated many times without side effects.

Cholecystography - indications

  • suspected developmental anomalies of the gallbladder
  • hypertrophic cholecystosis
  • qualification for possible treatment of follicular stones with non-surgical methods
  • assessment of bile duct patency after operations

Cholecystography cannot be performed on pregnant women or women who may be pregnant

Cholecystography - how to prepare?

Before the examination, inform your doctor about pregnancy (it is an absolute contraindication), as well as about circulatory diseases (e.g. coronary heart disease or bleeding tendency), you are taking the doctor (especially if these are anticoagulants), and about glaucoma, allergies and shortness of breath.

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Cholecystography - what is it?

The patient is administered a contrast agent - orally (usually as dragees -oral cholecystography ) or intravenously (intravenous cholecystography), which enters the bloodstream and is then released by the liver from bile.

Then a series of x-rays of the gallbladder, as well as the cystic and common bile ducts (bile ducts) are taken, although imaging the latter is usually not sufficient.

The bile, together with the contrast agent, reproduces the outline of the bubble. Thanks to this you canassess its location, shape, size and detect possible blockages and determine their cause (e.g. stones).

For example, in cholecystitis, the characteristic feature is that the gallbladder is not visualized.

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