Diagnostic Ultrasound for Sonographers

Gallbladder Adenomyomatosis

KEY FACTS Imaging Gallbladder (GB) wall thickening with intramural hyperechoic foci and comet-tail reverberation artifacts V-shaped comet-tail artifacts from debris in GB wall cystic spaces Twinkling artifacts from intramural debris on color Doppler examination Morphological patterns: Diffuse, segmental, annular, focal…

Porcelain Gallbladder

KEY FACTS Terminology Intramural calcification of gallbladder (GB) wall, uncommon manifestation of chronic cholecystitis You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a member. Log in here

Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis

KEY FACTS Terminology Rare inflammatory process causing focal or diffuse destruction of gallbladder (GB) wall with accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages, fibrous tissue, and acute and chronic inflammatory cells You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access…

Chronic Cholecystitis

KEY FACTS Terminology Chronic inflammation of gallbladder (GB) causing wall thickening and fibrosis You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a member. Log in here

Acute Acalculous Cholecystitis

KEY FACTS Terminology Acute necroinflammatory disease of gallbladder (GB) secondary to stasis and ischemia, not related to gallstones You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a…

Acute Calculous Cholecystitis

KEY FACTS Terminology Acute inflammation of gallbladder (GB) secondary to calculus obstructing cystic duct You’re Reading a Preview Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles Become membership If you are a member. Log in here

Gallbladder Polyp

KEY FACTS Imaging Single or multiple small, round/ovoid masses attached to gallbladder (GB) wall with no posterior acoustic shadowing Usually sessile but may be pedunculated with well-defined stalk Usually 2-10 mm in size, most commonly in middle 1/3 of GB…

Echogenic Bile

KEY FACTS Imaging Amorphous, mid-/high-level echoes within gallbladder or bile ducts Free floating or mass-like, mobile, settling in dependent position Floating punctate echoes may show ring-down artifact Occasionally round, low to intermediate echogenicity and mass-like: "Tumefactive" sludge No posterior acoustic…

Cholelithiasis

KEY FACTS Imaging Highly reflective, mobile and gravity-dependent intraluminal structures with posterior clean shadowing Variable size; stones < 5 mm may not shadow Contracted gallbladder (GB) full of stones may not exhibit mobility and may be mistaken for duodenal bulb…

Biliary System

TERMINOLOGY Abbreviations Extrahepatic biliary structures Gallbladder (GB) Cystic duct (CD) Right hepatic (RH) and left hepatic (LH) ducts Common hepatic duct (CHD) Common bile duct (CBD) Definitions Proximal/distal biliary tree (follows direction of flow) Proximal refers to portion of biliary…