The purpose of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic features of diffusely thickened gallbladder wall and try to compare with the laboratory findings.
We retrospectively analyzed 187 patients with diffusely thickened gallbladder on ultrasonogram. The major causes were included live cirrhosis in 83 cases, choleystitis in 73 cases, hepatitis in 18 cases and hepatoma in 13 cases. We classified
ultrasonographic fetures into the three types: thickened wall consisted of single high echogenic layer(type I), high echogenic layers contained low echogenc middle layer(type II), and high echogenic layers contained reticular stiated middle
layer(type
III). We evaluated the characteristic features of thickened gallbladder wall, and analyzed the presence of ascites, hypoalbuminemia, HBsAg/Ab and the level of SGOT/PT.
Mean thickeness of gallbladder wall was 60.mm, and mostly thickened in type III. The mean thickeness of gallbladder of lier cirrhosis was significantly thicker than that of cholecystitis.
Type I wall thickening of gallbladder was detected in 81 cases(43%), type II in 74 cases(40%), and type III in 33 cases(17%). Type I thickening was most frequently presented in cholecystitis, type II was frequently detected in liver cirrhosis and
hepatoma, and type III was most commonly detected in hepatitis. Ascites was frequently associated with type II and III. The level of SGOT was significantly high in type III. Presence of hypoalbumonemia, HBsAg/Ab and level of SGPT were not
significantly
different among the types.
Analysis of diffusely thickened gallbladder wall showed some feature characteristics according to the disease entities. The level of SGOT was considered to be helpful laberatory findings of suggesting type III wall thickening.
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