Transabdominal sonography of bile ducts

Ultrasound is considered to be the initial imaging modality of choice for evaluation of bile ducts. In this article, sonographic anatomy of the bile ducts and ultrasound findings in congenital, inflammatory, neoplastic, and other abnormalities of bile ducts are described. Roles of color Doppler ultrasound and newer applications, such as harmonic imaging and three-dimensional ultrasound, in evaluation of bile ducts are discussed.