title: Biliary atresia: making the diagnosis by the gallbladder ghost triad.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the gallbladder ghost triad and evaluate its usefulness in the sonographic diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary atresia (BA).
  
  
  METHODS
  From October 1997 to February 2002, 217 fasted infants with cholestatic jaundice aged 2-12 weeks were examined sonographically. We defined the gallbladder ghost triad as gallbladder length <1.9 cm, lack of smooth/complete echogenic mucosal lining with an indistinct wall and irregular/lobular contour, and used it as a criteria for BA. Gallbladder wall thickness, triangular cord, diffuse periportal echogenicity and hepatic artery calibre were also recorded. Diagnosis of BA was confirmed surgically and histologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty of 31 babies with BA demonstrated the gallbladder ghost triad. No false-positives were recorded. The 31st BA baby showed a normal gallbladder at 6 weeks, but developed the ghost triad at 8 weeks. Gallbladder wall thickening was seen in 46/186 non-BA babies, but not in BA. Triangular cord was observed in 24/31 babies. Twenty-two of 186 non-BA babies and 5/31 BA babies showed diffuse periportal echogenicity. The hepatic artery appeared more prominent in BA. All 31 babies diagnosed sonographically as BA had surgery. Three non-BA babies had "negative" laparotomies showing hypoplastic bile ducts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The gallbladder ghost triad is a very accurate sign of BA. Indeterminate cases require close follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, 229899, Singapore. annetan@kkh.com.sg
authors.forename: Anne Poh Ann
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Tan Kendrick
authors.forename: Kong Boo
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Phua
authors.forename: Boo Chye
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: Carolyn Eng Looi
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D017734:Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014463:Ultrasonography