Evaluation of gallbladder motility: comparison of two-dimensional and three-dimensional ultrasonography.
Since impaired gallbladder emptying contributes to gallstone formation, the evaluation of gallbladder motility requires accurate methodology. Recently developed 3-dimensional ultrasonography may take into account various gallbladder shapes more accurately than conventional 2-dimensional ultrasonography. Therefore, volumes of water-filled balloons of various sizes were determined in vitro by 2-dimensional ultrasonography with the sum of cylinders method and by 3-dimensional ultrasonography. Also, in 15 gallstone patients and 6 healthy volunteers, fasting gallbladder volumes and postprandial motility were determined by both methods. Volumes of water-filled balloons as measured by both methods correlated strongly with true volumes (R= 0.93 for 2-dimensional and R = 0.98 for 3- dimensional ultrasonography). Gallbladder volumes measured by both methods were also correlated (R = 0.66, P <0.001). In gallstone patients, 3-dimensional ultrasonography yielded smaller gallbladder volumes than 2-dimensional ultrasonography (P = 0.007), but not in healthy subjects. With both methods, gallstone patients exhibited decreased postprandial gallbladder motility compared to healthy subjects. In conclusion, gallbladder volume measurements by 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional ultrasonography are strongly correlated.Nevertheless, in gallstone patients, gallbladder volumes by 3-dimensional ultrasonography tend to be smaller than by 2-dimensional ultrasonography, possibly due to interference of gallstones with the volume measurement.
Stads
Susanne
S
Gastrointestinal Research Unit, Depts. of Gastroenterology and Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Venneman
Niels G
NG
Scheffer
Robert C H
RC
Samsom
Melvin
M
van Erpecum
Karel J
KJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D016473:Gallbladder Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D042882:Gallstones / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*