The role of biliary scintigraphy and ultrasonography in the diagnosis of cholecystitis
Maturo, V.G.; Zusmer, N.R.; Smoak, W.M.; Stern, M.H.; Gilson, A.J.; Janowitz, W.R.
Revista Interamericana de Radiologia 6(2): 47-50
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-9704 PMID: 7268266 Document Number: 181915
The scintigraphic and sonographic findings in 70 patients with pathologically confirmed gallbladder disease are described. Fifty-two patients were found to have had acute cholecystitis. All 52 patients (100%) had non-visualized of the gallbladder on scintigraphy. Of these patients, 71% had abnormal ultrasound examinations and 29% had normal ultrasound examination. Eighteen patients were proven to have chronic cholecystitis. All 18 (100%) had an abnormal ultrasound examination. Four patients (22%) had non-visualization of the gallbladder on scintigraphy producing a false-positive incidence of approximately 6% for acute cholecystitis. The predictive value of scintigraphy in the patient with suspected acute cholecystitis was 94%. A combination of ultrasound and scintigraphy yielded a sensitivity of 100% in the detection of gallbladder disease in the 70 patients.