Learning objectives
Pathology rising from the gallbladder is a group of entities that every radiologist has had to deal with during its professional carrer.
That is why we ilustrate typical and atypical cases in the gallbladder that the radiologist must identify in order to depict abnormalities and the importance of identification in US (classical diagnostic tool) and MR,
in which we make special emphasys.
Background
The initial diagnostic tool that is more commonly used within the suspition of gallbladder pathology is US,
but the great increase in the use of MR makes it crutial to know how these entities are seen.
We have done a retrospective revision since 2000 based in our hospital’s data base,
ilustrating,
by US and specially by MR multiple pathologies affecting the gallbladder such as congenital abnormalities,
anatomic variants,
benign inflamatory and non inflamatory entities,
gallbladder contents,
malignant pathology and alsosurgical and traumatic findings.
Imaging findings OR Procedure details
0.
ANATOMY:
The normal gallbladder wall is composed offour layers: the mucosa,
an irregular smooth muscle layer,
a perimuscularconnective tissue layer and serosa.
The mucosa formsprimary and secondary folds when the gallbladderis empty and flattens as the lumen expands.
The outer perimuscularconnective tissue contains large nerves,blood vessels,
lymphatics,
and occasional paraganglia.Along the hepatic surface there is no serosa,but occasional aberrant bile ducts(Luschka ducts) may be seen,
usually surroundedby fibrous tissue.
Thus,
there is continuity of theconnective tissue layer of the gallbladder with theinterlobular connective tissue...
Conclusion
A wide range of pathologies can affect the gallbladder,
making it crutial for the radiologist to know all the common and rare entities that can take place in it,
either by US or MR.
We elaborate a review in order to make an ilustrative approach to this cases.
References
1.
Angela D.
Levy,
Linda A.
Murakata,Robert M.
Abbott,Charles A.
Rohrmann,
Jr.
Benign Tumors and Tumorlike Lesions of the Gallbladder and Extrahepatic Bile Ducts: Radiologic-Pathologic Correlation.
RadioGraphics 2002; 22: 387-413.
2.
Onofrio A.
Catalano,
Dushyant V.
Sahani,Sanjeeva P.Kalva,
Matthew S.
Cushing,
Peter F.
Hahn,Jeffrey J.
Brown,
Robert R.
Edelman.
MR Imaging of the Gallbladder: A Pictorial Essay.
RadioGraphics January-February2008; 28:135–155.
3.
Jinxing Yu,
Mary Ann Turner,
Ann S.
Fulcher,
Robert A.
Halvorsen.
Congenital Anomalies and Normal Variants of the Pancreaticobiliary Tract and the Pancreas in...
Personal Information
Dra.
M.
Vera Cartas
Radiology Dpt.
Hospital Vall d'Hebron
Barcelona.
[email protected].