Ultrasonography of gallstones
Author:
Mikael Häggström [notes 1]
Planning
Choice of modality
- Ultrasonography of gallstones is the investigation of choice. In suspected cholecystitis such as severe and constant pain, see Ultrasonography of cholecystitis.
How soon
- Within a couple of hours if atypical symptoms (which may indicate a more serious disease of the biliary tract or abdomen), or if pain does not subside on analgesics.
- Otherwise, generally 4-8 weeks in Swedish practice.[1]
Evaluation
Gallstones are seen as hyperechoic objects, that leave an acoustic shadow. In case of similarity to a polyp (Ultrasonography of gallbladder polyps), turn the patient, making gallstones changing position, while polyps remain in the same place.
It is also proper practice to perform a general upper abdominal screening.
Notes
- ↑ For a full list of contributors, see article history. Creators of images are attributed at the image description pages, seen by clicking on the images. See Radlines:Authorship for details.
References
- ↑ NU Hospital Group, Sweden
