title: Functional analysis of gallbladder using three-dimensional ultrasound: preliminary results.
abstract: In evaluating gallbladder function, the clinical feasibility of three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound (US) using volumetric acquisition was assessed in 30 patients: 18 patients with gallstones and 12 healthy volunteers. 3-D ultrasonography was performed in each patient before and after a fat-meal test. The ejection fraction of the gallbladder from two volumes measured by computer-aided analysis was calculated. There were significant differences in the gallbladder ejection fractions among the diseased and control groups (p < 0.0001). Compared with the results of oral cholecystograms, the ejection fraction of the gallbladder using 3-D volumetry and the grade of oral cholecystography showed good correlation in predicting the gallbladder dysfunction (gamma = 0.71, p = 0.002). Even in cases failing oral cholecystography, the gallbladder ejection fraction using 3-D US was calculated without any difficulty. Conclusively, volumetric acquisition of 3-D US enables us to evaluate gallbladder function and provides a reliable diagnostic yield superior to oral cholecystography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ah Young
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung Ihn
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jae Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyoung Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joon Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002765:Cholecystography; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods