title: Cross-sectional imaging of perforated gallbladder.
abstract: Gallbladder perforation is a potentially life-threatening condition commonly seen as a complication of acute cholecystitis. Urgent surgical intervention is often needed to reduce serious morbidity and mortality. It presents a diagnostic challenge due to nonspecific symptoms, leading to a delay in diagnosis. Imaging plays a vital role in early identification of this potentially fatal condition and evaluation by more than one imaging modality may be required to make the diagnosis. Knowledge of specific and ancillary imaging findings is crucial to avoid misdiagnosis. In this article, we will review the risk factors, pathophysiology, and surgical classification of gallbladder perforation and discuss the role of multimodality imaging in its diagnosis. Differential diagnoses on imaging will also be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North Saint Clair Street Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Adeel R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Seyal
authors.forename: Keyur
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.forename: Fernanda D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Guindalini
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yaghmai
mesh_terms: D041881:Cholecystitis, Acute / Q000150:complications; D002765:Cholecystography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography