Cholescintiscan or infusion cholecystography in acute cholecystitis. A prospective study.

Two methods of diagnosing acute cholecystitis--cholescintigraphy and infusion cholecystography--were compared in a prospective study of 105 patients. Sensitivity and specificity were very high (96-99% and 91%, respectively), without difference between the two methods. Infusion cholecystography gave transient rise in liver enzyme levels in more than half of the patients. Cholescintigraphy gave no side effects. Cholescintiscan could be performed at moderately elevated bilirubin levels. It also gave information concerning liver malignancy in four patients. On these grounds, cholescintigraphy is the preferable of the two methods.