title: Diagnosis of gallbladder perforation by ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify possible pitfalls in the sonographic evaluation of perforated gallbladders.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective analysis of sonograms of 11 patients diagnosed by surgery or pathology with perforated gallbladder. Sonograms were evaluated for multiple sonographic features.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only three patients (27%) were diagnosed correctly with gallbladder perforation by ultrasonography prior to surgery. Gangrenous cholecystitis was reported in 10 cases (90%). Visualization of a wall defect was demonstrated in only five cases (45%) and was associated with a focal echogenic soft-tissue mass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Missed perforations by ultrasound may partially result from technical inadequacies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shapira-Rootman
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahamid
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Nadir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reindorp
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nachtigal
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera, Israel; Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Electronic address: raufzeina3@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Abdel-Rauf
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zeina
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Cholecystitis; Gallbladder; Gangrenous cholecystitis; Perforation; Ultrasound