[Possibilities of error and pitfalls in sonography of the gallbladder and bile ducts]

Ultrasound has a primary role in the imaging of biliary disease. Often the diagnosis is straightforward, but in this article the emphasis is placed on unusual and uncommon diseases, variant anatomy and artifacts that may present diagnostic challenges. The pitfalls and differential diagnosis in sonographic imaging of cholecystolithiasis, intraluminal gallbladder echoes, gallbladder wall thickening, artifacts of the gallbladder wall, pericholecystic fluid collections, bile duct dilatation and intraluminal bile duct echoes are discussed.