Asymptomatic emphysematous cholecystitis.
Emphysematous cholecystitis (EC) is a life-threatening complication of acute cholecystitis. Its clinical manifestations are usually vague, but asymptomatic cases are very rare. We present such a case with an emphasis on sonographic (US) findings. In this case, detection of gas echoes in the gallbladder wall and the surrounding hepatic tissue led us to an appropriate treatment. US is now the technique of first choice for diagnosing gallbladder diseases, and knowledge of US findings encountered in this case can help prevent a hazardous delay in emergent treatment.
Department of Gastroenterology, Red Cross Hospital, 222-1 Naeshirozawa, Saruta, Kamikitate, Akita, 010-1495, Japan. ohno@archosp-1998.com.
Hideo
H
Ohno
Department of Gastroenterology, Red Cross Hospital, 222-1 Naeshirozawa, Saruta, Kamikitate, Akita, 010-1495, Japan.
Hideaki
H
Ishida
Department of Gastroenterology, Red Cross Hospital, 222-1 Naeshirozawa, Saruta, Kamikitate, Akita, 010-1495, Japan.
Tomoya
T
Komatsuda
Department of Gastroenterology, Red Cross Hospital, 222-1 Naeshirozawa, Saruta, Kamikitate, Akita, 010-1495, Japan.
Akina
A
Matsuda
Department of Gastroenterology, Red Cross Hospital, 222-1 Naeshirozawa, Saruta, Kamikitate, Akita, 010-1495, Japan.
Takako
T
Watanabe
Artifact; Emphysematous cholecystitis; Gallbladder; Three-dimensional ultrasonography; Ultrasound