THE GALLBLADDER WALL: ACUTE CHOLECYSTITIS VERSUS CIRCUMFERENTIAL GALLBLADDER OEDEMA

Jacqueline F Spurway, Bradley J Simmons and
Roger P Davies

INTRODUCTION
The ultrasound criterion for a normal gallbladder wall is less than or equal to 3 mm. Increased thickness of the gallbladder wall is frequently described as a sign of acute inflammatory involvement of the gallbladder. Several non-biliary conditions can lead to a similar sonographic appearance and this article will summarise the differences on ultrasound examination between acute cholecystitis and global gallbladder wall thickening without intrinsic gallbladder disease.