Sonography of the gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas in adults with cystic fibrosis.

Real-time sonography is an established method of evaluating the gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas. Adequate visualization with B-scan equipment has been a problem in adults with cystic fibrosis, a group with an increased incidence of gallbladder disease. We performed real-time ultrasonography on 23 adult patients with cystic fibrosis. The gallbladder was visualized in 22 (96%) and was found normal in 14 (61%). Abnormalities in the remainder included cholelithiasis (17%) and microgallbladder (30%). No dilatation of the biliary tree was demonstrated. The pancreas was well visualized in 18 (78%) and showed increased echogenicity in most. We conclude that real-time sonography of the abdomen reliably permits examination of the gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas in adult patients with cystic fibrosis.