diagnosis
Last reviewed 01/2018
The diagnosis of gallstone ileus requires two out of three of:
- small bowel obstruction
- a gallstone seen on abdominal X-ray
- air in the biliary tree on abdominal X-ray
Additionally, a barium meal may show reflux into the gallbladder and biliary tree through a fistula.
An intravenous cholangiogram is not of use in diagnosis.