Ultrasound of the normal neonatal gallbladder.
Prospective real-time ultrasonographic examination of the gallbladders of 45 neonates yielded gallbladder images that ranged from 9 to 54 mm in length (mean 30, SD 9.2) and 3 to 15 mm in diameter (mean 8, SD 2.9). Previous reports of gallbladder sonography in neonates are reviewed. Ultrasound is valuable for identifying gallstones, establishing whether a large gallbladder is the cause of a right upper quadrant mass, and following the course of a distended gallbladder. The role of sonography in diagnosing neonatal acalculous cholecystitis is less clear.
D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014465:Ultrasonics