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Cholecystography
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Cholecystography is an x-ray examination of the gallbladder. In the evening on the eve of the study, the patient takes inside the iodine-containing hepatotropic drug. It is absorbed in the intestine, trapped from the blood by the liver cells and excreted with bile, but in a relatively small concentration. However, during the night the drug concentrates in the gallbladder (thus the patient should not take food). In the morning, an X-ray examination is carried out - an overview of the area of the bladder, which shows its image.
A normal gallbladder is displayed on the cholecystogram in the form of an elongated oval tapering upward shadow with smooth, well defined contours. In the vertical position of the subject, the gallbladder is located to the right of the midline of the abdomen approximately parallel to the spine. The size and shape of the bladder varies. The length of its shadow is on the average 6-10 cm, and the largest diameter is 2-4 cm. The shadow of the bladder is uniform, gradually amplified in the caudal direction. In connection with the development of sonography, the clinical significance of cholecystography has decreased noticeably. At present, the main indication for this study is the determination of the necessity of lithotripsy - the crushing of stones in the gall bladder by shock wave impulses.
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