ABSTRACTThe ultrasonographic findings of 44 patients, with obstructive jaundice were retrospectively reviewed. Our conclusions from this study are: Ultrasound is an excellent modality for detecting dilatation of the biliary tree (in part or in total) and assessing the degree of dilatation, but it does not reliably detect the obstructing lesion often enough. It is important to adequately visualise the area of the extra‐hepatic biliary tree and pancreatic head before suggesting the aetiology of any biliary tract dilatation regardless of the findings more proximally in the biliary tract. The optimal role of ultrasound is to detect a mass if one is present: tissue‐typing requires histological or cytological examination of material from the mass.