[Ultrasound diagnosis of cholelithiasis: comparison with radiological studies (author's transl)]

Results of ultrasonic anc cholecystographic (oral or intravenous) gall-bladder studies were compared retrospectively. 302 radiological studies of the gall-bladder, 156 oral and 146 intravenous cholecystograms, had been performed on 223 patients tested by ultrasound within six months. The gall-bladder was visualised by ultrasound in 217 (97.3%), in the intravenous cholecystogram in 92 of 146 (63%) and the oral cholecystogram in 82 of 156 (53%). The diagnosis of cholelithiasis by ultrasound was made in 97 of 223 cases, confirmed in 96 by further studies or operation. There was only one false-positive result. 143 radiological studies in these 97 patients gave 87 negative cholecystograms, gall-stones being directly demonstrated radiologically in only 46. There was one false-positive intravenous cholecystogram. In a further 97 patients ultrasound studies failed to demonstrate any gall-bladder disease, but in three of them radiology demonstrated stone (2.9% false-negative results). Amond 49 normal intravenous cholecysto-cholangiograms 47 were confirmed; once the diagnosis was made by ultrasound and at surgery (2% false-negative results). Oral cholecystography was the least reliable study. In every fourth negative test ultrasound and intravenous contrast-medium injection demonstrated a normal gall-bladder (28% false-positive).