An evaluation of three-dimensional ultrasonography for the measurement of gallbladder volume

Various three-dimensional ultrasonography systems have been developed. We estimated the accuracy of a three-dimensional ultrasonography system for measuring gallbladder volume and compared the results to the sum-of-cylinders method.

In an in vitro study, 10 balloons of various shapes, sized 5-68 mL were scanned by real-time ultrasonography. In an in vivo study, we evaluated the gallbladder emptying of 14 healthy male volunteers after ingestion of two raw egg yolks. In both studies, volume measurement was performed by the three-dimensional ultrasonography method and the sum-of-cylinders method.

With the three-dimensional ultrasonography method, the mean difference between the measured volume and the true volume and the limits of agreement were smaller than those of the sum-of-cylinders method. Gallbladder volumes did not differ significantly with both ultrasound methods.

The three-dimensional ultrasonography method accurately determined gallbladder volumes.