Sonographic Patterns of the Gallbladder in Acute Viral Hepatitis

Abstract

Ultrasound was used for a serial evaluation of gallbladder modifications in 61 patients with acute viral hepatitis during both the acute phase of the illness and recovery. Most of the patients studied within 7 days from the onset of symptoms and/or jaundice showed sonographic abnormalities of the gallbladder (increased wall thickness, reduced volume, abnormal bile content). A normal ultrasound pattern of the gallbladder was progressively restored during the clinical recovery in most of the patients. A statistical correlation was found between the gallbladder wall thickness and the alanine transferase index.

Cross-Sectional Imaging of Acute and Chronic Gallbladder Inflammatory Disease

“…Such gallbladder changes are most commonly thought to be reactive because of adjacent hepatic inflammation. Maresca et al [46] identified gallbladder abnormalities on sonography in 51% of consecutive patients presenting with a clinical and laboratory diagnosis of acute hepatitis. Their study also found a direct correlation between the timing of onset of symptoms and imaging findings.…”

A Gallbladder Mercedes-Benz Sign in Acute Hepatitis A

“…A finding of periportal tracking indicates periportal edema ( Figure 3) and perivenous edema (Figure 4, 5). Liver heterogeneity detected on arterial phase dynamic CT of the liver is a specific finding in acute hepatitis (4). Most of these findings are present in the icteric phase of acute hepatitis (1).…”

“…It is determined more easily on CT (Figure 2). An increase in the GWT is detected on ultrasound at rates ranging from 51% to 91% (4,5). In their study, Maresca et al (4) have reported that there were morphological changes in the gallbladder in 80% of patients within 7 days after the onset of symptoms.…”

“…An increase in the GWT is detected on ultrasound at rates ranging from 51% to 91% (4,5). In their study, Maresca et al (4) have reported that there were morphological changes in the gallbladder in 80% of patients within 7 days after the onset of symptoms. If the GWT was greater than 3 mm, Park et (3) considered it abnormal and found it abnormal in 56.6% of the cases with acute hepatitis.…”

Evaluating Patients with Right Upper Quadrant Pain

“…8 This appearance has also been seen in leukemia, lymphoma, and severe hepatic congestion. 9 Because of periportal edema in hepatitis, the gallbladder wall is often markedly thickened with an edematous and striated appearance [10][11][12][13] (see Fig. 1B).…”