[Ultrasonography in cholelithiasis].

Ultrasonography has become the first line examination in the diagnosis of cholelithiasis. As for the gallbladder, extracorporeal ultrasonography is the most useful and the safest procedure. Ultrasonic properties of gallstones even suggest the feasibility of dissolution therapy. The detectability of choledocholithiasis is, however, not satisfactory. This deficiency has been overcome by combining endoscopy with ultrasound. Endoscopic ultrasonography, as well as ERCP, is a useful tool for examining the extrahepatic bile duct and the pancrease. Recently, with the development of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, intraoperative ultrasonography during laparoscopic surgery has considerably improved with introduction of new probes and may replace most of the methods of intraoperative cholangiography in the future.