Clinical images. Gallbladder torsion showing a "whirl sign" on a multidetector computed tomography scan.
An 82-year-old woman presented with a 5-day history of right upper quadrant pain. A physical examination showed a palpable tender mass in the right upper quadrant with Murphy's sign. The contrast-enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scan clearly showed the twisted pedicle of the cystic duct and gallbladder mesentery on the right side of the gallbladder, thus showing a "whirl sign," and a definitive diagnosis of gallbladder torsion was made. The patient underwent a cholecystectomy, resulting in a favorable outcome. Therefore, the whirl sign on MDCT imaging can be a key to making a definitive diagnosis of gallbladder torsion.
Tajima
Yoshitsugu
Y
Department of Surgery, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8501, Japan. ytajima@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
Tsuneoka
Noritsugu
N
Kuroki
Tamotsu
T
Kanematsu
Takashi
T
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*