Cholecystokinin cholangiography and analysis of duodenal bile in the investigation of pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen without gallstones.

Thirty-one patients with recurrent symptoms of the biliary tract and repeated normal oral cholecystograms were studied by a combination of cholecystokinin cholangiography and biliary drainage. Ten patients had reduplication of their symptons because of dyskinetic contractions or obstruction of the cystic duct, and seven patients had delayed gallbladder emptying without pain due to hypokinetic contractions. Five patients had abnormal duodenal bile characterized by supersaturation and the presence of crystals or bacteria. Based upon these studies, 22 patients had cholecystectomy and 20 were cured, while two showed improvement. There were no therapeutic failures. Cholecystokinin cholangiography capably detects the presence of neuromuscular disease of the gallbladder wall, whereas the oral cholecystogram tests for mucosal function or the presence of filling defects. An additional group of patients who have cholesterosis, cholecystitis, or cholelithiasis missed by the oral cholecystogram will not be diagnosed by cholecystokinin cholangiography unless the duodenal bile is also examined.