Comparison of real-time and gray-scale static ultrasonic cholecystography.

The authors compared the diagnostic accuracy of gray-scale static scanning and high-resolution real-time ultrasonography in the evaluation of gallbladder disease in 339 patients. With real-time scanning, the gallbladder was seen in 97.6% of cases and gallstones were unequivocally demonstrated in 94.5% of patients with cholelithiasis, compared to 89.5% and 78.8%, respectively, with static scanning. Real-time scanning is more accurate because it can show the contracted, stone-filled gallbladder. It is also faster and more convenient to both patient and examiner, making it the procedure of choice in the primary evaluation of gallbladder disease.