Ultrasonographic diagnosis of gall bladder wall thickness in the presence of ascites

Twelve patients with ascites were evaluated retrospectively on gall bladder wall thickeness by US as well as CT. In seven of the eleven patients, the gall bladder wall appeared to be thickened on both of US and CT. In remaining four patients, the gall bladder wall appeared to be thickened on US but not on CT. Thickening of the gall bladder wall in the latter groups must be due to the beam angle failing to be perpendicular to the gall bladder wall. It is important that ultrasonographic evaluation of gall bladder wall thickeness in the case of many ascites should be done in the region in which the beam angle is perpendicular to the gall bladder wall. (author)