Ultrasound evaluation of the gallbladder wall.
In a series of 526 consecutive, unprepared patients examined by ultrasound, the gallbladder was visualized in 507 (96%). The average wall thickness was 2 mm or less in 97% of asymptomatic subjects without cholelithiasis and 3 mm or greater in 45% of those with choletithiasis. Pathologic correlation of increased thickness and chronic cholecystitis was made in a subgroup of 47 surgical patients. Local tenderness and mucosal thickening were found in 8 patients with acute cholecystitis. Use of electronic sector scanning is emphasized.
D001826:Body Fluids; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000473:pathology; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000473:pathology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology*; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography