What does acute acalculous cholecystitis look like sonographically?

Prepare for the WCUI/Smith Chason Exit Assessment – Abdomen, Vascular, OB/GYN Test. Enhance your study with flashcards and detailed multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Master your exit exam with confidence!

Multiple Choice

What does acute acalculous cholecystitis look like sonographically?

Explanation:
Acute acalculous cholecystitis shows inflammation of the gallbladder without stones. On ultrasound, the hallmark is a thickened gallbladder wall (often >3 mm) with the presence of sludge inside the gallbladder and fluid around the gallbladder (pericholecystic fluid) from the inflammatory process. The key point is that there are no gallstones. This contrasts with calculous cholecystitis, where stones are present along with a thickened wall. A normal gallbladder would lack these inflammatory signs, and a gallbladder with ductal dilation suggests obstruction or another biliary process rather than isolated acalculous inflammation.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis shows inflammation of the gallbladder without stones. On ultrasound, the hallmark is a thickened gallbladder wall (often >3 mm) with the presence of sludge inside the gallbladder and fluid around the gallbladder (pericholecystic fluid) from the inflammatory process. The key point is that there are no gallstones. This contrasts with calculous cholecystitis, where stones are present along with a thickened wall. A normal gallbladder would lack these inflammatory signs, and a gallbladder with ductal dilation suggests obstruction or another biliary process rather than isolated acalculous inflammation.

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