Emphysematous cholecystitis - early detection by ultrasonography -

The ultrasonographic findings in a case of emphysematous cholecystitis were reported. Thick curvilinear high echoes with reverberation and acoustic shadows due to the air were found along the anterior surface of the gall bladder. However, no gas shadow was noted in the right upper abdomen on the plain radiograph. On the following day, an air fluid level in the lumen and a linear gas shadow in the wall of the gall bladder were demonstrated by the plain film and CT. With ultrasonography, it is possible to find small amounts of the air in the gall bladder at an early stage of emphysematous cholecystitis.