[Ultrasound study in the diagnosis of extrahepatic bile duct diseases]

Ultrasonic examination (USE) conducted in 7,000 persons, among whom 3,000 had gastroenterological diseases, gave evidence for suspected diseases of the biliary tract in 1,471. Analysis of the results of the examination showed the method to be effective in 99% of patients with cholelithiasis and chronic recurring cholecystitis; the preoperative diagnosis of acute cholecystitis was confirmed in 98% of cases. The possibilities of USE in identifying the nature of jaundice were high, but the true topical diagnosis was established before the operation by the method only in 53% of 226 patients with obstructive jaundice. Stones in the common bile duct were discovered in 58 cases in a group of 100 patients, tumors in the extrahepatic biliary tract in 28 among 35 patients, and carcinoma of the pancreas in 33 among 35 patients.