Cholecystography is an examination to observe the structure, morphology, and abnormal lesions of the gallbladder by X-ray after oral administration or injection of a contrast agent. When a contrast agent is taken orally, the contrast agent builds up in the gallbladder and appears white in the X-ray picture. When contrast agents are injected intravenously, the bile ducts can be observed better than the gallbladder.
When is cholecystography needed?
It is administered when symptoms of biliary system abnormalities such as jaundice, pain in the upper abdomen, and indigestion.
What should I prepare for cholecystography?
Fasting is required for at least 6 hours before testing.
In what order is cholecytography performed?
Oral cholecystography
- Fasting is required for 6 hours or more before inspection.
- Take contrast medium the day before the test and take an X-ray at 12 hours. This is because the concentration of the contrast agent in the gallbladder is highest, and the gallbladder relaxation function can be observed.
- If the contour of the gallbladder is well observed, a fat diet is administered and X-ray is taken 30 minutes later. At this time, the contractile function of the gallbladder can be observed.
- If the gallbladder is not well contrasted, the operator can increase the amount of contrast medium and perform it in the same way.
Intravenous cholecystography
- Fasting is required for 6 hours or more before inspection.
- The contrast agent is injected into a vein and X-rayed.
How do I get cholecystograpy test results?
After the correct reading is made, you can hear the explanation of the test result from the medical staff.
What are the precautions regarding cholecystography?
Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, itching, rash, and difficulty breathing may appear due to the contrast medium used during the test. Patients with contrast agent hypersensitivity reactions should be consulted with their healthcare provider before deciding whether to test.
If you are pregnant or if you are pregnant by X-ray examination, you should decide whether to do this after consulting with a medical staff.
Additional knowledge about cholecystography
The gallbladder is a pouch-shaped organ attached to the bottom of the liver, located in the upper right abdomen of our body, and is an organ that functions to concentrate and store bile secreted from the liver.
All mass lesions in which the mucosal layer inside the gallbladder protrudes into the lumen of the gallbladder are called gallbladder polyps, a relatively common lesion found in about 5% of the population, most benign lesions without risk.
However, caution is necessary because of the possibility of developing some of the gallbladder cancers and the difficulty in distinguishing them from early gallbladder cancers. Recently, as the generalization of abdominal ultrasonography performed by a medical examination has become more common, asymptomatic gallbladder polyps have been found, and interest has increased.
The cause of gallbladder polyps may vary depending on the type of polyps, and cholesterol polyps have been increasing in recent years in connection with the increase in obesity and hyperlipidemia.
In general, the gallbladder polyp itself has few symptoms and may cause pain in the upper right abdomen and incisors, but it is not as severe as cholelithiasis.
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