[Ultrasonic diagnosis of early gallbladder cancer]

In a series of 514 consecutive cholecystectomy specimens excised for biliary disease, 1.4% exhibited early carcinoma and 4.5% advanced. On the other hand benign tumors and pseudotumors were observed in 2.0% of cholesterol polyps, 0.8% adenomas, 1.0% inflammatory polyps and 10.8% adenomyomatosis. On the basis of these finding in this series, diagnostic usefulness and difficulties of ultrasound were discussed. Sonography can provide critical diagnostic information for preoperative identification of small polypoid lesion and irregular wall thickness.