title: Diffuse gallbladder wall thickening on computed tomography in patients with liver cirrhosis: correlation with clinical and laboratory variables.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to retrospectively evaluate (a) which clinical/laboratory features are associated with the presence of diffuse gallbladder wall thickening (DGWT) in cirrhotic patients and (b) whether the degree of DGWT is correlated with such clinical/laboratory variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  After excluding patients with DGWT or laboratory test abnormalities from known causes unrelated to liver cirrhosis, a retrospective review of liver computed tomography obtained from 242 consecutive cirrhotic patients was performed by 2 radiologists in consensus to determine the presence of DGWT of greater than 3 mm in thickness and, if present, to measure the degree of DGWT defined as maximal thickness. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to evaluate association between presence/degree of DGWT and clinical/laboratory features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 242 patients, 73 (30.2%) had DGWT. Diffuse gallbladder wall thickening was seen in 7.6% (12/157) of patients with Child-Pugh class A, 61.1% (33/54) of class B, and 90.3% (28/31) of class C (P < 0.001). The presence of ascites, lower platelet count, and lower albumin level were independently associated with the presence of DGWT (P < 0.01, P = 0.01, and P = 0.02, respectively). However, these factors did not show significant correlation with the degree of DGWT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of DGWT in cirrhotic patients is associated with the presence of ascites, lower platelet count, and lower albumin level. The degree of DGWT is not correlated with such variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Biomedical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jee Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Young Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Sun
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Nam C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Sung Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Sung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hae Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001201:Ascites / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D012709:Serum Albumin; D007472:Iohexol; C038192:iopromide