May 2015

Gallbladder with a thick wall

Bookmark

Clinical information

Intensive care patient has the clinical symptoms of a cholecystitis

Ultrasound Images & Clips

Gallbladder with a thickened wall

Gallbladder without stones but with a thick wall

Another image of the gallbladder

The next day the situation is unchanged

Another image shows again no gallstones

The next day the situation again was unchanged. The contents of the gallbladder are still fairly clear. A punction was performed and pus was aspirated

A pigtail catheter was placed

This a gallbladder in a young female patient with severe liver function tests. Is this also an aculculous cholecystitis

This patient does not have an acalculous cholecystis but a hepatitis. A hepatitis can sometimes cause some pain over the liver, but otherwise the clinical symptoms differ from a cholecystitis

Conclusion

An acalculous cholecystitis is rare and is usually found in patents with a poor physical condition, like in this case of an ICU patient. A thickened gallbladder wall has a lot of different causes and these must be differentiated from a true acute acalculous cholecystitis.

Details

Sex: Male
Age: 78

Created with

Fujifilm Ultrasound System

Browse through our ultrasound product portfolio

Looking for MSK Ultrasound Education? Visit Sonoskills.com

Author

Dr. Taco Geertsma

Retired Radiologist, Gelderse Vallei Hospital

Dr. Taco Geertsma is the founder of UltrasoundCases.info and a retired radiologist and has worked in the Gelderse Vallei hospital from January 1, 1983. till July 1, 2014. He was the head of the ultrasound department for many years.

More Cases from Taco Geertsma

[{"listLocation":"abdomen-and-retroperitoneum","icon":"001-abdomen-white.svg","header":"Abdomen and retroperitoneum","id":63},{"listLocation":"urinary-tract-and-male-reproductive-system","icon":"002-urinary-tract-white.svg","header":"Urinary Tract and male reproductive system","id":64},{"listLocation":"gynaecology","icon":"003-gynaecology-white.svg","header":"Gynaecology","id":65},{"listLocation":"head-and-neck","icon":"004-head-neck-white.svg","header":"Head and Neck","id":66},{"listLocation":"breast-and-axilla","icon":"005-breast-white.svg","header":"Breast and Axilla","id":67},{"listLocation":"musculo-skeletal-joints-and-tendons","icon":"006-msk-joints-white.svg","header":"Musculoskeletal Joints and Tendons","id":68},{"listLocation":"musculo-skeletal-bone-muscle-nerves-and-other-soft-tissues","icon":"007-msk-bones-white.svg","header":"Musculoskeletal, bone, muscle, nerves and other soft tissues","id":69},{"listLocation":"thorax","icon":"008-thorax-white.svg","header":"Thorax","id":70},{"listLocation":"pediatrics","icon":"009-pediatrics-white.svg","header":"Pediatrics","id":71},{"listLocation":"peripheral-vessels","icon":"010-peripheral-vessels-white.svg","header":"Peripheral vessels","id":72}]