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Chollegraphy
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
Cholegraphy is an X-ray examination of the gallbladder and bile ducts. A hepatotropic iodine-containing contrast agent is administered intravenously slowly. The drug combines with blood proteins, is captured by hepatocytes and excreted with bile. Since its concentration in bile is relatively high, shadows of the bile ducts and then the gallbladder appear sequentially on images taken 5-7 minutes after the administration of the contrast agent. The main purpose of cholegraphy is to obtain functional and morphological data on the state of the biliary system. Note that due to the development of sonography, the role of cholegraphy, like cholecystography, has decreased.
It is performed only in cases where the results of sonography are questionable, such as when examining the retrobulbar region of the common bile duct, when ultrasound examination is not always effective.
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