Ultrasound examination and cholescintigraphy in cholestasis

The results of ultrasound, cholescintigraphy, and their combination, were analysed in 57 patients with cholestasis. At ultrasound, the presence of an extrahepatic obstruction was correctly diagnosed in 13 and at cholescintigraphy in 14 of 18 cases. The correct diagnosis increased to 17 when the information was combined. In the 31 patients with intrahepatic disease, absence of extrahepatic obstruction was correctly predicted in 26 cases with either method alone, whereas the combined use yielded a correct result in 29.