Usefulness of cholescintigraphy with lipid meal loading for diagnosis and determination of cholecystectomy in a patient with gallbladder dysfunction.

A 47-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of upper abdominal and back pain. Abdominal ultrasonogram, computed tomogram, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and arteriography examination did not reveal any abnormalities. As cholescintigraphy after lipid meal loading detected dysfunction of the gallbladder, we diagnosed dyskinesia of the gallbladder. And the output ratio of the gallbladder from scintigraphy was less than 1%. Cholecystectomy completely relived her from symptoms. Histological examination disclosed chronic cholecystitis and arteritis causing dysfunction of the gallbladder. This case suggested the usefulness of cholescintigraphy with lipid meal loading for gallbladder dysfunction in determining whether or not to do cholecystectomy.