Contrast enhanced sonography of the gallbladder: a tool in the diagnosis of cholecystitis?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate if contrast enhanced sonography (CES) can help to detect gallbladder inflammation and differentiate between acute and chronic cholecystitis.


METHODS
Thirty-three patients with clinical suspicion of acute cholecystitis were examined with CES before cholecystectomy. Thirty patients with no history of gallbladder disease served as control. CES was performed using 2.5 mL SonoVue. A small mechanical index was chosen (0.1). The enhancement pattern of the gallbladder was ranked in a three-point scale: no enhancement, low enhancement and strong enhancement. 28/33 patients underwent surgery. Sonographic findings were compared to histological results.


RESULTS
In 16/20 cases with histological proven acute cholecystitis, the gallbladder wall showed a strong enhancement. Low enhancement was found in four patients with acute and in six patients with chronic cholecystitis. The gallbladder wall of two patients with chronic inflammation and all patients (30/30) of the control group showed no enhancement.


CONCLUSIONS
CES is a feasible tool for detecting gallbladder inflammation. Differentiating between acute and chronic cholecystitis seems to be possible.
Adamietz
Boris
B
Institute of Radiology, University of Erlangen, Maximiliansplatz 1, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. boris.adamietz@idr.imed-uni-erlangen.de
Wenkel
Evelyn
E
Uder
Michael
M
Meyer
Thomas
T
Schneider
Ignaz
I
Dimmler
Arno
A
Bautz
Werner
W
Janka
Rolf
R
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
D003287:Contrast Media