Case report: ultrasound in the diagnosis of gallstone ileus

Recent case reports have shown that ultrasound can be useful in the diagnosis of gallstone ileus. A further patient is presented in whom the ultrasonic demonstration of dilated bowel loops, air in the gall-bladder, and an ectopic gallstone clinched the diagnosis when the plain radiographs demonstrated only small bowel obstruction. A pitfall in the ultrasound diagnosis is also discussed.