Dropped gallstones and surgical clips after cholecystectomy: CT assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the spectrum of computed tomographic (CT) findings in patients with dropped gallstones or dropped surgical clips after cholecystectomy.


METHODS
Seventeen patients diagnosed with dropped gallstones and 26 patients with dropped surgical clips on computed tomography after cholecystectomies were included in this study. The CT scans were evaluated for the number, location, size, and density of dropped gallstones or surgical clips and for the presence of an abscess. The cases were evaluated for the outcome on clinical and/or CT follow-up.


RESULTS
The location for dropped gallstones and dropped surgical clips after cholecystectomy was the Morrison's pouch in 17 and 12 patients, respectively. There were 9 abscesses in the study, all located in the Morrison's pouch. Duration from surgery to observation of abscess on computed tomography ranged from 5 days to more than 4.7 years. None of the patients with a dropped surgical clip from cholecystectomy developed an associated abscess.


CONCLUSIONS
Subhepatic location was the most common location for dropped gallstones with associated abscess and for dropped surgical clips. Dropped cholecystectomy clips are not associated with increased risk of abscess formation and therefore do not need screening follow-up or operative removal. Abscess formation around dropped gallstone is a more common complication and requires surgical treatment in most when associated with an abscess.
Singh
Ajay K
AK
University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, USA. asingh1@partners.org
Levenson
Robin B
RB
Gervais
Debra A
DA
Hahn
Peter F
PF
Kandarpa
Krishna
K
Mueller
Peter R
PR
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed