Early morphine administration to expedite gallbladder visualization during cholescintigraphy for acute cholecystitis.

A 58-year-old woman underwent emergent hepatobiliary imaging for evaluation of possible acute calculous cholecystitis. Intravenous morphine was administered 10 minutes after small bowel activity was first seen. The gallbladder visualized promptly after morphine administration, effectively excluding cystic duct obstruction and acute cholecystitis. The entire imaging procedure was completed and a final diagnosis made within 30 minutes.