Emphysematous Cholecystitis : A Pitfall in Ultrasonographic Examination

Abstract

     Patients with tender right upper quadrant usually presumed to be acute cholecystitis. ln a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, beside symptoms of the patient, using an ultrasound is extremely necessary. However, in emphysematous cholecystitis patients, using only the ultrasound might illustrate a false negative result either from gas in gall bladder or gas in the wall of gall bladder. Consequently, the image from the ultrasound might mislead to be bowel gas instead. Therefore, the physician should carefully diagnose the patient in this particular disease. When a gall bladder is not found in the ultrasound study, additional filming of the patient’s abdomen is strictly required to have more precise diagnosis. So that, the patient’s will have a proper and immediate treatments.