Gall bladder carcinoma sonographic diagnosis

ABSTRACT

Carcinoma of the gall bladder is difficult to diagnose in its early stage owing to non-specificity of its clinical symptoms which are similar to gall stone disease. Sonographic features of 23 patients verified to have gall bladder carcinoma were reviewed. The main features were large solid mass filling the gall bladder cavity in 52% of cases, tumourous growth along irregularly thickened bladder wall in 30%, polypoid mass in 9% and fungating mass on markedly thickened wall in 9%. Associated features were gallstones in 78%, cholecystitis in 65%, liver metastases in 17%, biliary radicles dilatation in 13%, empyema in 9% and ascites in 4%. Sonography is a useful method for the preoperative diagnosis of gall bladder carcinoma