“Can an X-Ray detect gallstones?”
I think I have gallstones, mainly because I feel pain in my upper abdomen and have nausea. What are the tests that diagnose gallstones? Imaging, and lab? Are x-rays needed?
7 Answers
Simple X-rays can identify only the calcified gallstones, only 10% of cases. Other test is ultrasound scan, MRI scan, cholangiography, and CT scan. Blood tests may include liver tests, which are blood tests that show evidence of gallbladder disease. Also, blood test for lipase and amylase, look for information of the pancreas. Thank you.
Ultrasound.
Sorry for my delayed reply. The best way to detect gallstones is with a gallbladder ultrasound. Plain film C ray evaluation of the abdomen may fail to show gallstones especially if they are low in calcium content. The same logic applies to CT scanning of the abdomen. The other advantage of ultrasound is it is quick, free of ionizing radiation, and relatively cheap cheap compared with CT scans of the abdomen.
Hope this helps.
Brian
Hope this helps.
Brian
An ultrasound of the Gallbladder is more sensitive. If you have many dense stones in the gallbladder, then a KUB could detect it.
I hope that helps,
Dr Cox
I hope that helps,
Dr Cox
Abdominal ultrasound is the study you need. Not all gallstones are visible in an X-ray.
The imaging test used to identify gallstones is ultrasound. If calcified, they may be seen on X-ray, but this is not always the case.
Yes, but ultrasound is better.
