Use of biliary drainage in diagnosis of biliary tract disease.

Thirty-five patients with biliary-type symptoms and normal oral cholecystograms were found to have either cholesterol crystals, calcium bilirubinate pigment or leucocytes in gallbladder bile collected through duodenal drainage. All underwent cholecystectomy. The gallbladders all showed histological evidence of chronic cholecystitis and/or cholesterolosis. In addition, four gallbladders contained calculi. Cholecystectomy is recommended as treatment for a selected group of patients with duodenal bile crystals or pigment.