[Ultrasonic diagnosis of gallstone diseases]

In the past decade the sonography has effected radical changes in the diagnostics of gallstone troubles and their complications. Today it is the method of choice in search for gallstones. Taking into consideration all advantages connected with the method and a sensitivity of more than 95% with an approximately 99 per cent specificity at present no other diagnostic method can compete with it. The reliability in the gallstone diagnostics above all depends on the experience of the investigator and the size of the concrement. Data in modern literature indicate a sensitivity of 70-90%, among our own patients it is in 376 cases nearly 86% (specificity 92%). In optimal technical and personal prerequisites the ultrasound diagnostics it is the initial method of choice also in the diagnostics of the bile ducts. The intravenous cholegraphy and ERC as complementary methods are used only in the second place.