B-mode ultrasonographic diagnosis in gallbladder wall thickening.

Abstract

Diseases associated with gallbladder wall thickening include benign entities such as adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder, acute and chronic cholecystitis, and hyperplasia associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, and also cancer. Unique conditions such as sclerosing cholecystitis and cholecystitis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment can also manifest as wall thickening, as in some systemic inflammatory conditions. Gallbladder cancer, the most serious disease that can show wall thickening, can be difficult to diagnose early and to distinguish from benign causes of wall thickening, contributing to a poor prognosis. Differentiating between xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and gallbladder cancer with wall thickening can be particularly problematic. Cancers that thicken the wall while coexisting with benign lesions that cause wall thickening represent another potential pitfall. In contrast, some benign gallbladder lesions that can cause wall thickening, such as adenomyomatosis and acute cholecystitis, typically show characteristic ultrasonographic features that, together with clinical findings, permit easier diagnosis. In this review of the literature, we describe B-mode abdominal ultrasonographic diagnosis of gallbladder lesions showing wall thickening.

• Authors: Hironao Miyoshi, Kazuo Inui, Yoshiaki Katano, Yoshihiko Tachi, Satoshi Yamamoto
• Journal: Journal of medical ultrasonics (2001) (J Med Ultrason (2001)) Vol. 48 Issue 2 Pg. 175-186 (Apr 2021) ISSN: 1613-2254 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 32333131 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Topics

• Aged
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Gallbladder (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Gallbladder Diseases (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ultrasonography (methods)