title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound in gallbladder disease: a pictorial review.
abstract: With its excellent contrast and spatial resolution, and the ability to image in real-time, ultrasound is the main imaging modality for assessing the gallbladder (GB). The application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of the GB is now increasingly recognized as a useful addition to ultrasound and other cross-sectional imaging in the assessment of neoplastic and non-neoplastic GB disease. With the ability to image microcirculation and optimal contrast resolution, CEUS allows high-quality delineation in real-time, allowing for increased diagnostic confidence. In addition, ultrasound contrast agents have a favorable safety profile and can be used if CT or MR contrast agents are contraindicated or undesired. In this review, the CEUS appearances of a range of GB diseases encountered are presented, including adenomyomatosis, polyps, carcinoma, sludge, and cholecystitis with mural ulceration or perforation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia. gerstenmaierjf@fastmail.com.au.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gerstenmaier
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, P.O. Box 1980, Norfolk, VA, 23501, USA.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC, 3050, Australia.|The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media
keywords: Carcinoma; Cholecystitis; Contrast-enhanced ultrasound; Gallbladder; Polyp; Sludge