Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Biliary Tract / Gallbladder, Abdomen, Gastrointestinal tract, CT, Ultrasound, MR, Cholangiography, Education, Calcifications / Calculi, Education and training
Authors:
J. Lim, C. Hewavitharana; WA/AU
DOI:
10.1594/ranzcr2017/R-0010
Background
Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder,
most often secondary to cholelithiasis[1].
Acute acalculous cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder in the absence of cholelithiasis which occurs in approximately 10% of all cases of acute cholecystitis,
usually in patients who are diabetic,
critically ill or with prolonged illness[2].
The multiple forms of cholecystitis are the most common surgical entity encountered in developed countries[3].
Approximately 380 000 medical presentations per year in Australia are attributed to gallbladder disease[4].
Disorders of the gallbladder,
biliary tree and liver may cause right upper quadrant abdominal pain.
Imaging plays a key role in discerning the aetiology and establishing a prompt diagnosis.
US is the initial imaging modality of choice but CT,
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and radionuclide imaging play complementary roles[2].