Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 2, Issue 9 395-400, Copyright © 1983 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Ultrasonography of choledocholithiasis
S. G. Parulekar and M. P. McNamara Jr
In a retrospective study of patients with ultrasonographically demonstrable
choledocholithiasis, 81 stones were demonstrated in 46 patients. The
majority of the stones were between 5 and 10 mm in diameter; the smallest
was 2 mm and the largest 23 mm. Of the 81 stones, 64 demonstrated
acoustical shadowing; 56 were located in the distal segment of the common
bile duct. Stones in the common bile duct are best demonstrated by sagittal
sections with the patient in the right anterior oblique position. It is
possible but more difficult to demonstrate stones within a normal-sized
common bile duct. Several possible sources of confusion in the diagnosis of
common bile duct stones are discussed. Ultrasonography of the common bile
duct is best performed with a high-resolution real-time sector scanner. The
accuracy and frequency of detection of common bile duct stones have
increased significantly with the advances in technology and improvement in
resolution of the mechanical sector real-time scanners.
