[Ultrasound determination of size and calcium content of gallstones]

In a prospective study, ultrasound examinations of the gallbladder as well as cholecystocholangiography were carried out in 77 patients with solitary stones and the ultrasound stone symptoms were compared with the x-ray findings. The ultrasound stone reflex as well as the wideness of the sonic-shadow correlated significantly with the size of the stones. The stone size can be approximately calculated from the wideness of the sonic shadow. On the other hand dependence of the ultrasound stone symptoms and the radiographic defined calcium was not evident. While the stone size can be sonographically defined, the indentification of calcium in gallstones continues to remain a domain of radiographic methods.