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Medical Author:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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Medical Editor:

Barbara K. Hecht, PhD

Barbara K. Hecht, PhD

Dr. Barbara Kaiser-McCaw Hecht is Director of Hecht Associates, Inc., consultants in Medical Genetics based in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Hecht is a Diplomat of the American Board of Medical Genetics both in Clinical Cytogenetic (Chromosome Genetics) and Medical Genetics (Genetic Counseling). Dr. Hecht attended Stanford University from which she received a BA and an MA in Biology.

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Medical Editor:

Frederick Hecht, MD, FAAP, FACMG

Frederick Hecht, MD, FAAP, FACMG

Frederick Hecht, MD, lives in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Hecht is a Pediatrician and Medical Geneticist and is certified by both the American Boards of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics. Dr. Hecht was born and raised in Baltimore and attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. and the Sorbonne at the University of Paris receiving his BA degree cum laude with distinction from Dartmouth.

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In this Article

• What is an oral cholecystogram?
• How is an oral cholecystogram done?
• What are the risks of an oral cholecystogramv?
• When is an oral cholecystogram useful?
• Oral Cholecystogram Index

What are the risks of an oral cholecystogram?

The risks of an oral cholecystogram are few. One, of course, is the radiation. However, in an OCG there is a relatively small amount of radiation from the x-rays.

Another risk involves the iodine. Some people are allergic to iodine. Fortunately, most people who are allergic know that they are, and therefore do not undergo the test.

When is an oral cholecystogram useful?

The OCG is an excellent procedure for diagnosing gallstones. It finds gallstones 95% of the time. However, the OCG has tended to be replaced by ultrasonography because ultrasonography is slightly better at diagnosing gallstones and can be done immediately without waiting one or two days for the OCG's iodine to be absorbed, excreted, and concentrated. The OCG also cannot give information about the presence of non-gallstone related diseases, which ultrasonography is sometimes able to do. A limitation of the OCG is that it does not work well when there is more than a minimal amount of jaundice. Fortunately, most people with gallstones are not jaundiced.

As would be expected, ultrasonography sometimes finds gallstones that are missed by the OCG. Less frequently, the OCG finds gallstones that are missed by ultrasonography. For this reason, if gallstones are strongly suspected but ultrasonography does not show them, it is reasonable to consider doing an OCG. So OCGs are still done, and for good reason.
Last Editorial Review: 10/26/2003