The Role of Sincalide Cholescintigraphy in the Evaluation of Patients With Acalculus Gallbladder Disease

Abstract

• Thirty-six patients with biliary colic and normal oral cholecystograms, upper gastrointestinal tract roentgenograms, and results of gallbladder ultrasonography underwent sincalide-stimulated biliary excretion scanning. Nineteen of these patients subsequently underwent cholecystectomies. Gallbladder ejection fractions (EFs) ranged from 0% to 88% (mean, 38%) and nine of 19 patients had exact pain reproduction with sincalide. All patients except one (EF, 35%) were cured of their symptoms. However, five patients were also cured who had a normal EF (>50%). Histologically, 11 gallbladders showed chronic cholecystitis and eight were normal. We conclude that the sincalide biliary excretion scan is a useful test to study this group of patients. In patients with a decreased EF, cholecystectomy can be recommended with a high probability of symptom relief. In patients with normal EFs, clinical judgment is required, as some of these patients (five of five in this series) may still benefit from operation. (Arch Surg 1985;120:693-697)