Ultrasonography of the gallbladder. Investigation of the nonvisualized gallbladder at oral cholecystography.

One hundred and one patients with nonvisualized gallbladder at double dose oral cholecystography were examined with ultrasonography. In 41 of 44 operated patients, ultrasonography suggested gallbladder disease. Operation in all of these cases confirmed the diagnosis. In three of the patients with cholelithiasis operation revealed in addition gallbladder carcinoma. In three patients, in which ultrasonography demonstrated normal appearance of the gallbladder surgery revealed chronic cholecystitis and stone impacted in the cystic duct. The diagnostic value of ultrasonography as complementary method for evaluation of gallbladder disease, particularly in cases of nonvisualization of the gallbladder at ultrasonography is stressed. The high incidence of gallbladder carcinoma in the present material in patients with cholelithiasis point to the fact that this group of patients should be the subject for careful investigation.