Hepatobiliary disease: a comparative evaluation by ultrasound and computed tomography

Ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) are both relatively new techniques for evaluating gallbladder and biliary disease. Ultrasound is more sensitive than CT for detecting the presence of gallstones because of partial volume averaging errors which occur with CT. Both modalities are sensitive methods of differentiating jaundice due to intrahepatic disease from extrahepatic obstruction. However, CT should not be considered a screening test at the present time and should be reserved for selected cases where ultrasound is unable to produce diagnostically acceptable information.