Pseudo Gallbladder sign in biliary atresia—an imaging pitfall
Open Access
- 16 March 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Pediatric Radiology
- Vol. 41 (5), 620-626
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-011-2019-1
Abstract
Ultrasound (US) is used to identify causes of neonatal cholestasis. We describe a potential sonographic pitfall, the “pseudo gallbladder,” in biliary atresia (BA). To describe the Pseudo Gallbladder sign (PsGB sign). Sonograms/clinical records of 20 confirmed BA infants and 20 non-BA cases were reviewed retrospectively. For the BA group, preoperative sonography and surgical and pathological findings were examined. For the non-BA group, sonographic features and pathological findings were examined. The PsGB sign is defined as a fluid-filled structure, located in the expected region of the gallbladder, measuring ≤ 15 mm in length but without a well-defined or normal-appearing gallbladder wall. A recognizable gallbladder and normal gallbladder wall were present in all non-BA infants. However, none of the BA infants had a sonographically normal gallbladder. Seventy-three percent of BA patients had a PsGB, and in 27% no gallbladder or gallbladder-like structure was detected. A gallbladder-like structure in BA is common and can be misinterpreted as a normal gallbladder, delaying diagnosis and therapy. Recognition of this imaging pitfall, described here as the pseudo gallbladder sign, will help avoid this error.Keywords
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