Ultrasonic appearance of the filled and contracted normal gallbladder.

The echographic appearance of the wall of normal well-filled and contracted gallbladders was studied prospectively in 25 persons. Using gray-scale equipment, the wall of the filled gallbladder appeared as a single reflecting structure, whereas during contraction, three different components could be distinguished. The exact recognition of this particular pattern is important in the differential diagnosis of real wall thickening and incomplete contraction.