The clinical significance of gallstones and their radiological investigation

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Abstract
The symptoms of 122 patients with gallstones were correlated with the radiological findings. No specific indigestion was present which could be termed “flatulent dyspepsia”. Sensitivity to fatty foods occurred in 69 per cent, heartburn in 42 per cent, regurgitation of acidtasting or bitter fluid to the mouth in 31 per cent and increased passage of flatus from the stomach upwards in 38 per cent. If the gallbladder concentrated contrast medium on an oral cholecystogram but did not contract after a fatty meal, the patients suffered less heartburn than if the gallbladder functioned normally. However, since surgeons rarely perform a cholecystectomy for flatulent dyspepsia alone, knowledge of gallbladder function may be unnecessary.