Gallbladder ultrasound commonly shows gallstones (bright, mobile echoes with posterior acoustic shadowing), biliary sludge, gallbladder wall thickening (>3 mm), pericholecystic fluid, and a positive sonographic Murphy’s sign—findings suggesting cholecystitis. It can also detect polyps and biliary duct dilation (suggesting obstructing stones). It’s operator-dependent and less sensitive for common bile duct stones than for gallbladder stones.

Severe, sudden upper‑right or mid‑upper abdominal pain (often radiating to the right shoulder/back), persistent nausea and vomiting, fever or chills, jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes), dark urine or pale stools, loss of appetite, and increasing abdominal swelling. These suggest gallstones, cholecystitis, or bile‑duct obstruction; seek urgent medical attention for high fever, worsening pain, persistent vomiting, or signs of jaundice.

Yes. Most facilities ask you to fast 6–8 hours (sometimes up to 8–12) before a gallbladder ultrasound. Fasting keeps the gallbladder full and reduces bowel gas, improving visualization and detection of stones or inflammation. Small sips of water are usually allowed; avoid food, milk, and sometimes medications. Always follow the specific instructions from your imaging center.

A normal gallbladder ultrasound shows a pear‑shaped, fluid‑filled (anechoic) organ with a thin, smooth wall (≤3 mm), no gallstones or biliary sludge, no pericholecystic fluid or masses, and a negative sonographic Murphy’s sign. The common bile duct measures within expected limits (commonly ≤6 mm). Imaging is usually done after fasting to ensure adequate distension.

A gallbladder ultrasound is generally painless and non-invasive. You lie on a table while a sonographer applies gel and moves a probe across your upper abdomen. You may feel mild pressure or brief discomfort if the technician presses over a tender, inflamed area, but it shouldn’t cause significant pain. The scan takes about 10–30 minutes and involves no radiation.

You can sometimes remove or dissolve gallstones without removing the gallbladder. Options include oral bile-acid therapy (ursodeoxycholic acid) that slowly dissolves small cholesterol stones, and shock‑wave lithotripsy combined with medication in select patients. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) removes stones from the bile duct but not the gallbladder. These approaches suit few cases and have a high recurrence risk; surgery is standard for symptoms.