Ultrasonic scanning in the diagnosis of biliary disease

B-scan ultrasonography appears to be useful in cases of radiographic nonvisualization or where impairment of hepatobiliary function is severe enough to preclude attempts at oral cholecystography or intravenous cholangiography. Sonographic demonstration of a normal gallbladder is an excellent indicator of the absence of disease. When consistently abnormal echoes are found, the test is a reliable indicator of biliary calculi.