[Correlation between ultrasound and pathology of the gallbladder]

Ultrasound is a sensible and specific method for the diagnosis, study of natural course and follow up of medical treatment of gallstones. Thus it is important to specify the concordance between echographic and pathological findings of the gallbladder. Ninety one patients were subjected to an ultrasound gallbladder examination immediately before elective surgery and the excised organ was pathologically examined right after the operation. The number and size of stones, the diameters and wall thickness of the gallbladder and the presence of polyps and septa were compared with both methods. The correlation was fair for the number or size of the stones considered separately; however the correct diagnosis of both parameters was obtained in only a third of the cases. Diameters of the gallbladder were underestimated by ultrasound; wall thickness measurement showed a very good correlation with both methods. No correlation was found for polyps or septa. Although ultrasound is excellent for the diagnosis of gallstones, its precision, is insufficient to determine the exact number and size of the stones.