Scanning of polypoid gallbladder lesions by ultrasonic microprobes using transpapillary catheterization.
OBJECTIVE
Polypoid lesions of the gallbladder can be diagnosed by transabdominal ultrasonography and endoscopic ultrasonography. However, the image resolution is limited, and the histopathology of these lesions is difficult to determine. We report here on our preliminary results in four patients using a high-frequency (20 MHz) ultrasonic microprobe introduced into the gallbladder via the transpapillary approach.


METHODS
Insertion of the microprobe into the gallbladder through the papilla of Vater was attempted in four patients with gallbladder diseases without preceding endoscopic sphincterotomy.


RESULTS
The lesions in the gallbladder were clearly visualized in three of the four patients. We tried to correlate the characteristic ultrasound findings with the histopathology of the lesions, which were found to be early cancer, adenoma, and adenomyomatosis on histopathology of the specimens after cholecystectomy. No complications occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
High-resolution endoscopic transpapillary ultrasonography of the gallbladder is feasible and safe, and may contribute to the diagnosis of gallbladder diseases, particularly of small polypoid lesions.
Uchida
N
N
Third Dept. of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical School, Japan.
Ezaki
T
T
Hirabayashi
S
S
Minami
A
A
Fukuma
H
H
Matsuoka
H
H
Watanabe
S
S
Morshed
S A
SA
Nishioka
M
M
Ikeda
Y
Y
Higashijima
T
T
Kozeki
M
M
Matsuoka
M
M
Nakatsu
T
T
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018194:Adenomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014670:Ampulla of Vater / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019160:Endosonography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014159:Transducers