[Pathologic wall changes in the gallbladder in patients with gallstones and in healthy probands. Imaging using high frequency annular array sector transducers].

2154 computerized ultrasound diagnoses of 1623 patients were evaluated retrospectively from January 1st to October 31st 1987. The frequency of pathologic gallbladder wall changes in patients with stones and normal controls was examined applying 5 MHz annular array sector transducer. The occurrence of polyps, septae, sludge, kinking, carcinoma and adenomyomatosis was noted separately. The prevalence of polyps and septae in gallstone patients was increased fourfold if compared to the total number of examined patients. Sludge was found in 5.9% of gallstone patients compared to 2.2% in normal controls. Carcinoma and adenomyomatosis were present only in cases of cholelithiasis; the prevalence of these pathologic wall changes is obviously rare. The importance of polyps and septae in biliary lithogenicity is discussed.