A prospective study was undertaken to assess whether or not cholecystokinin cholecystography was able to predict the long-term results of cholecystectomy. The patients studied were all suffering from abdominal pain which was thought to be biliary in nature but in whom standard oral cholecystography did not reveal gall-bladder disease. There were 48 patients, mostly female, who were followed for 3 or more years after investigation and treatment. Half of the patients underwent cholecystectomy. There was no difference in outcome between those patients treated conservatively and those who underwent cholecystectomy. Cholecystokinin cholecystography was unable to predict the response of the patient to surgery in respect of relief of pain. It is concluded that cholecystokinin cholecystography is not a useful investigation when considering whether or not cholecystectomy would benefit the patient and afford lasting relief from pain.