Oral Radiological Evaluation of the Biliary Tract

SUMMARYIn 134 examinations the author compared three oral cholecystcholangiographic methods: The fractionated method. Biloptin 12 hours prior and solu biloptin 3 hours prior to the examination. Telepaque. 12 hours prior to the examination. Solu Biloptin (double dose). 12 hours prior to the examination. All three methods gave satisfactory gallbladder visualisation. However, the following advantages of the fractionated method became evident: Lower incidence of non opacifying gallbladders (patent gallbladder with damaged mucosa will now show). Higher incidence of delineation of hepatic bile flowing down the common duct thus increasing the diagnostic significance of non visualised gallbladders. Higher incidence of record of common duct calibre–useful evidence of partial obstruction if dilated and of possible future use in the event of recurrence of symptoms post‐operatively. Whiteside (1961) emphasised visualisation of the duct calibre. For this purpose 10 mm diameter was taken as the upper limit of normality (Le Quesne, Whiteside and Hand).