Gallstones are common and often detected through a gallbladder test. Symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, and bloating. The test involves contrast dye pills and x-rays to confirm the presence of abnormal growths. Treatment may include medication, dietary changes, or surgical removal. Gallbladder scans are becoming outdated, with doctors preferring nuclear, computed tomography, or ultrasound tests.
Gallstones are a fairly common occurrence, forming in the gallbladder where the body’s bile is stored. About 80% of those who develop these stones learn they are there through an X-ray examination known as a gallbladder. When pain persists, confirmation of gallstones by this test could be followed by surgical excision, dietary changes, or even a long regimen of medication to slowly reduce them.
A gallbladder test is often ordered by a doctor after a patient complains of various symptoms that indicate the presence of gallstones. This condition, known as cholelithiasis, primarily affects women, although both genders are susceptible. At age 65, the odds are higher of developing symptoms of gallstone disease such as nausea, severe abdominal or back pain, indigestion, and bloating. These pain attacks typically occur at rest, especially after eating a fatty meal.
The night before a cholecystography is done, patients are given the contrast dye pills. This will spread throughout the bloodstream and gallbladder to produce x-ray images that can confirm the suspected presence of abnormal growths in the organ. Radiologists are trained to identify not only gallstones during this test, but also other growths such as tumors or polyps, as well as an infection or general lack of proper function. Patients are routinely told to eat a fat-free meal the night before the test, then fast until after their appointment the next day.
During the test a radiologist will likely ask the patient to remove all clothing and jewelry and put on a hospital gown. It is also common for the technician to perform an enema on the patient to remove any blockage in the intestines that could be interfering with the results. The remainder of the procedure involves standing still while a radiologist takes pictures of the abdomen, to provide a view from all angles. The patient may also be given a type of fatty food, so more images are obtained to evaluate the functioning of the gallbladder.
According to the Medical University of South Carolina, a gallbladder scan is becoming an older technology in diagnostics. In 2011, doctors are more likely to order a nuclear, computed tomography, or ultrasound test to diagnose an internal condition like gallstones. Regardless of how confirmation is obtained, typical follow-up after a gallbladder is dependent on how much occlusion is seen. A low-fat diet may help some whose stones aren’t as pronounced or regularly painful. Others may only find relief after a long regimen of medication or surgical removal.
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