The10 “Dangerous”
   cholecystitis.
     Dr/Ahmed Bahnassy
  Consultant Radiologist -RAFH
      MBCHB-MD-FRCR
I-Gangrenous Cholecystitis
• Necrotizing.
• Clinical and laboratory criteria are
  nonspecific.
• US or CT diagnosis can be life
  saving
Relative weight of Ct findings
CT findings
•   air in gallbladder lumen




                       Intraluminal linear densities
                       (black arrows) corresponding to
                       intraluminal membranes. Note
                       lack of contrast enhancement of
                       gallbladder wall (open arrow).
                       Pericholecystic inflammation
                       (white arrow)
• irregularity of wall (black
  arrows) of gallbladder (g)
  and inflammation in
  pericholecystic fat (white
  arrow).

   • loculated fluid attenuation
     abnormality adjacent to gallbladder,
     consistent with abscess (a). Defect
     in gallbladder wall is shown (black
     arrow). White arrow shows
     pericholecystic inflammation
• markedly distended
  gallbladder with irregular wall
  showing striated appearance
  with alternating areas of high
  (black arrows) and low
  attenuation (small white
  arrow). Large gallstone
  (asterisk) is present in
  gallbladder lumen. Large
  white arrow shows
  pericholecystic inflammation.
• markedly thickened
  gallbladder wall with
  alternating areas of high
  (black arrows) and low
  attenuation (short white
  arrow), giving striated
  appearance. Gallbladder
  wall appears regular and
  intact. Note enhancing
  vessel in gallbladder wall
  (long white arrow).
• increased
  contrast
  enhancement
  of liver
  parenchyma
  adjacent to
  gallbladder
  fossa
  (arrows).
• marked
  distention of
  gallbladder (g)
  with mural
  thickening
  (arrow).
• extensive
  pericholecystic
  fluid (white
  arrows).
  Intraluminal linear
  high density
  corresponds to
  intraluminal
  membrane (black
  arrows).
II-Emphysematous cholecystitis.
• Emphysematous
  cholecystitis is an
  unusual but life-
  threatening form
  of acute
  cholecystitis
  caused by the
  presence of gas-
  forming bacteria in
  the gallbladder.
Pathophysiology
• Emphysematous cholecystitis frequently affects elderly
  men, and it is usually associated with diabetes mellitus.
• The risk of gangrene and perforation of the gallbladder is
  relatively high for patients with emphysematous
  cholecystitis, and the mortality rate is 15%, as compared
  with 4% for acute cholecystitis.
• The etiology of emphysematous cholecystitis is
  controversial, but it is considered to be due to ischemia
  of the gallbladder from primary vascular compromise,
  with secondary proliferation of gas-producing bacteria .
limited
• Note:
• Wall thickening.
• Pericholecystic
  fluid.
• Mural air pocket.
• Fatty stranding.
Extensive
• Mural gas
  outlining the
  gall bladder.
US diagnosis..can it be done ?!!
III-Gall stone ileus.
• The term classic gallstone ileus often
  refers to an obstructing stone localized
  to the terminal ileum.
• Delayed diagnosis can be life
 threatening.
Air in biliary tree
• Air within the
  gall bladder or in
  biliary
  radicles,can
  point to fistulous
  presence.
• DD portal gas.
• Note the gas in
  the biliary tree,
  and rounded
  opacity in the
  pelvis
Rigler triad

• small bowel
  obstruction;
• gas in biliary
  tree;
• large ectopic
  gallstone
Post ERCP
IV-Bouveret syndrome.
• Bouveret syndrome
  is a gastric outlet
  obstruction
  produced by a
  gallstone impacted
  in the distal
  stomach or
  proximal
  duodenum.
• It was described by
  Leon Bouveret in
  1896 and occurs
  most commonly in
  elderly women .
• Two low
  attenuation
  stones in gall
  bladder and
  duodenum.
• Curvilinear
  air filled
  fistula
  between gall
  bladder and
  2nd part of
  duodenum.
V-Mirizzi syndrome
• Impaction of a large gallstone (or multiple small
  gallstones) in the Hartmann pouch or cystic duct
  results in the Mirizzi syndrome in 2 ways:
• (1) Chronic and/or acute inflammatory changes
  lead to contraction of the gallbladder, which then
  fuses with and causes secondary stenosis of the
  CHD, or
• (2) large impacted stones lead to
  cholecystocholedochal fistula formation
  secondary to direct pressure necrosis of the
  adjacent duct walls
• Normal CBD.
• Dilated
  intrahepatic biliary
  radicle.
• Gall bladder stone
  disease.
• (DD.:Klatskin
  tumour.)
VI-Porcelain gall bladder.
• Calcifications
  of the gall
  bladder wall.
• Precancerous.
VII-Haemorrhagic cholecystitis
• The clinical presentation may be
  indistinguishable from acute cholecystitis.
  Biliary colic, hematemesis, jaundice, and
  melena make up the classic, albeit
  unusual, syndrome.
• Other presentations include upper
  gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hydrops of
  the gallbladder, hemoperitoneum, or
  obstruction of the common bile duct.
When to suspect ?
• Hemorrhage within the gallbladder may
  occur secondary to hemobilia from
  trauma, biliary neoplasms, vascular
  disease including aneurysm rupture into
  the biliary tree, ectopic gastric or
  pancreatic mucosa, anticoagulation, or
  parasites. Spontaneous hemobilia from a
  blood dyscrasia is unusual. Ischemia of
  the gallbladder of any etiology could result
  in hemorrhage secondarily but is rare.
• Markedly thickened
  gallbladder wall
  containing a layering
  echogenic fluid-fluid
  level high attenuation
  gallbladder wall

• CT showing gall
  bladder containing a
  layering high
  attenuation fluid-fluid
  level representing
  blood or, less likely,
  pus .
VIII-CCC with Pseudoaneurysm of
          cystic artery
• Pseudoaneurysms arise as a
  consequence of visceral inflammation
  adjacent to the arterial wall, which leads to
  damage to the adventitia and thrombosis
  of the vasa vasorum resulting in localized
  weakness in the vessel wall. These are
  prone to rupture.
• Cystic artery related pseudoaneurysms may
  occur following an episode of acute cholecystitis
  or following cholecystectomy. However, in
  association with acute cholecystitis
• The rarity of this complication despite the high
  incidence of cholecystitis may be due to early
  thrombosis of the cystic artery in response to
  inflammation .
• It is generally believed that a pseudoaneurysm
  develops when a large gallstone erodes the
  cystic artery.
Ying-Yang sign
• Anechoic lesion
  at the gall bladder
  neck .
• Color doppler
  shows mosaic
  appearance of
  colours. .
• Produced by to
  and fro movement
  of blood .
Angiography
IX-Cholecystitis in ICU patients
• Acalculous Cholecystitis
• Occurs in 0.5 to 1.5% of patients in ICU for
  greater than one week
• Patients in intensive care units (ICU) are at
  risk of developing acalculous cholecystitis as
  a result of a combination of clinical variables.
  Patients are usually fasting and are
  frequently prescribed medications that cause
  cholestasis, which can lead to stasis of biliary
  function and acalculous cholecystitis.
• Features that have been described: gallbladder wall
  thickening, gallbladder distention, intramural gallbladder
  wall lucencies (striated gallbladder wall), pericholecystic
  fluid, gallbladder sludge, and the presence of a
  sonographic Murphy's sign.
• Gallbladder wall thickening was defined as a transverse
  wall measurement adjacent to the liver and
  perpendicular to the sonography beam of greater than 3
  mm.
• Gallbladder distention was defined as a shortaxis
  diameter of the gallbladder of 40 mm or greater .
• Gallbladder wall lucencies were defined as irregular
  discontinuous lucent and echogenic bands in the
  gallbladder wall.
• Marked
  gallbladder wall
  thickening and
  pericholecystic
  fluid.
• Localized
  tenderness could
  not be evaluated.
• Sagittal
  sonogram
  reveals
  distended
  gallbladder .
  Note diffuse
  anterior
  gallbladder
  wall lucencies .
• Percutaneous
  cholecystomy using
  the trocar technique.
  Ultrasound guides
  transhepatic access to
  the gallbladder with a
  6F trocar drainage
  catheter.
• After access, the
  catheter is fed forward
  to reform the distal
  pigtail within the
  gallbladder lumen and
  is locked in this
  configuration.
• Ultrasound and CT
  studies demonstrate
  transhepatic
  cholecystomy
  catheter in good
  position, but interval
  development of
  markedly worsening
  gallbladder wall
  edema and
  pericholecystic
  inflammatory changes
  have occurred. At
  surgery, gangrenous
  gallbladder was found
  and resected
  successfully.
X-Parasitic cholecystitis
• Several parasites infest liver or biliary tree,
  either during their maturation stages or as
  adult worms. Biliary tree parasites may
  cause pancreatitis, cholecystitis, biliary
  tree obstruction, recurrent cholangitis,
  biliary tree strictures and some may lead
  to cholangiocarcinoma.
Clonorhiasis associated
               cholecystitis
• Clonorchiasis is infection with
  the liver fluke Clonorchis
  sinensis. Infection is through
  undercooked freshwater fish.
• Clonorchis is endemic in the
  Far East, especially in Korea,
  Japan, Taiwan, and southern
  China, and infection occurs
  elsewhere among immigrants
  and those eating fish imported
  from endemic areas.
CECT
• IHBR dilatation.
• Hepatic cyst.
• Enhanced GB
  wall.
• Intraluminal
  stone.
• Eosinophilic
  infiltrates with
  clonorchisis
  ovum.
•   CT shows hyperdense
    material within grossly
    distended major
    intrahepatic bile ducts,
    which on pathological
    examination was
    proven to be a
    combination of
    pigmented biliary
    stones and sludge and
    Clonorchis flukes.
•   Several calcified stones
    can be seen in
    peripheral ducts on this
    CT study.
•   The spleen is enlarged.
Ascariasis induced
• Ascaris lumbricoides, which
  causes ascariasis, is the
  largest of the round worms
  (nematodes), with females
  measuring 30 cm x 0.5
  cm. It is present in the GI
  tract (small intestine) of
  1.2–1.5 billion individuals in
  tropical and subtropical
  areas, making it the most
  common nematode
  infection in the world.
• Intraluminal
  tubular filling
  defect with +/-
  central canal
  (GIT)
Fascioliasis


• Eggs of Fasciola hepatica have been found in
  mummies, showing that human infection was
  occurring at least as early as Pharaonic times .
  Indeed, F. hepatica was the first fluke or
  trematode to be reported.
Acute Cholecystitis : How Urgent as Revealed
by CT Signs ?
SUK-PING NG SHE-MENG CHENG SHIN-LIN SHIH
Department of Radiology, Mackay Memorial Hospital
Acute Cholecystitis : How Urgent as Revealed by CT Signs ?
SUK-PING NG SHE-MENG CHENG SHIN-LIN SHIH
Department of Radiology, Mackay Memorial Hospital
Group I
• Acute
  cholecystitis
  with a normal
  CT.
• Mild
  cholecystitis.
• Elective
  operation.
Group II
• Uncomplicated
  acute
  cholecystitis.
• Gall bladder
  distension with
  wall thickening.
Group III
• Hyperdense GB
  contents,calcium
  sludge ,with calcium-
  fluid level.
• Operation revealed
  He and pus in GB.
• Irregular thickening of
  GB(op.:Gangrenous
  cholecystitis)
Group IV
• Pericholecystic
  stranding,intralu
  minal
  membrane
  (OR:acute
  gangrenous
  cholecystitis)
• Pericholecystic
  abscess-
  loculated fluid
  collection-
Imaging of dangerous cholecystitis

Imaging of dangerous cholecystitis

  • 1.
    The10 “Dangerous” cholecystitis. Dr/Ahmed Bahnassy Consultant Radiologist -RAFH MBCHB-MD-FRCR
  • 3.
    I-Gangrenous Cholecystitis • Necrotizing. •Clinical and laboratory criteria are nonspecific. • US or CT diagnosis can be life saving
  • 4.
    Relative weight ofCt findings
  • 5.
    CT findings • air in gallbladder lumen Intraluminal linear densities (black arrows) corresponding to intraluminal membranes. Note lack of contrast enhancement of gallbladder wall (open arrow). Pericholecystic inflammation (white arrow)
  • 6.
    • irregularity ofwall (black arrows) of gallbladder (g) and inflammation in pericholecystic fat (white arrow). • loculated fluid attenuation abnormality adjacent to gallbladder, consistent with abscess (a). Defect in gallbladder wall is shown (black arrow). White arrow shows pericholecystic inflammation
  • 7.
    • markedly distended gallbladder with irregular wall showing striated appearance with alternating areas of high (black arrows) and low attenuation (small white arrow). Large gallstone (asterisk) is present in gallbladder lumen. Large white arrow shows pericholecystic inflammation.
  • 8.
    • markedly thickened gallbladder wall with alternating areas of high (black arrows) and low attenuation (short white arrow), giving striated appearance. Gallbladder wall appears regular and intact. Note enhancing vessel in gallbladder wall (long white arrow).
  • 9.
    • increased contrast enhancement of liver parenchyma adjacent to gallbladder fossa (arrows).
  • 10.
    • marked distention of gallbladder (g) with mural thickening (arrow).
  • 11.
    • extensive pericholecystic fluid (white arrows). Intraluminal linear high density corresponds to intraluminal membrane (black arrows).
  • 12.
    II-Emphysematous cholecystitis. • Emphysematous cholecystitis is an unusual but life- threatening form of acute cholecystitis caused by the presence of gas- forming bacteria in the gallbladder.
  • 13.
    Pathophysiology • Emphysematous cholecystitisfrequently affects elderly men, and it is usually associated with diabetes mellitus. • The risk of gangrene and perforation of the gallbladder is relatively high for patients with emphysematous cholecystitis, and the mortality rate is 15%, as compared with 4% for acute cholecystitis. • The etiology of emphysematous cholecystitis is controversial, but it is considered to be due to ischemia of the gallbladder from primary vascular compromise, with secondary proliferation of gas-producing bacteria .
  • 14.
    limited • Note: • Wallthickening. • Pericholecystic fluid. • Mural air pocket. • Fatty stranding.
  • 15.
    Extensive • Mural gas outlining the gall bladder.
  • 16.
  • 17.
    III-Gall stone ileus. •The term classic gallstone ileus often refers to an obstructing stone localized to the terminal ileum. • Delayed diagnosis can be life threatening.
  • 18.
    Air in biliarytree • Air within the gall bladder or in biliary radicles,can point to fistulous presence. • DD portal gas.
  • 19.
    • Note thegas in the biliary tree, and rounded opacity in the pelvis
  • 20.
    Rigler triad • smallbowel obstruction; • gas in biliary tree; • large ectopic gallstone
  • 21.
  • 22.
    IV-Bouveret syndrome. • Bouveretsyndrome is a gastric outlet obstruction produced by a gallstone impacted in the distal stomach or proximal duodenum. • It was described by Leon Bouveret in 1896 and occurs most commonly in elderly women .
  • 23.
    • Two low attenuation stones in gall bladder and duodenum. • Curvilinear air filled fistula between gall bladder and 2nd part of duodenum.
  • 24.
    V-Mirizzi syndrome • Impactionof a large gallstone (or multiple small gallstones) in the Hartmann pouch or cystic duct results in the Mirizzi syndrome in 2 ways: • (1) Chronic and/or acute inflammatory changes lead to contraction of the gallbladder, which then fuses with and causes secondary stenosis of the CHD, or • (2) large impacted stones lead to cholecystocholedochal fistula formation secondary to direct pressure necrosis of the adjacent duct walls
  • 25.
    • Normal CBD. •Dilated intrahepatic biliary radicle. • Gall bladder stone disease. • (DD.:Klatskin tumour.)
  • 26.
    VI-Porcelain gall bladder. •Calcifications of the gall bladder wall. • Precancerous.
  • 27.
    VII-Haemorrhagic cholecystitis • Theclinical presentation may be indistinguishable from acute cholecystitis. Biliary colic, hematemesis, jaundice, and melena make up the classic, albeit unusual, syndrome. • Other presentations include upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hydrops of the gallbladder, hemoperitoneum, or obstruction of the common bile duct.
  • 28.
    When to suspect? • Hemorrhage within the gallbladder may occur secondary to hemobilia from trauma, biliary neoplasms, vascular disease including aneurysm rupture into the biliary tree, ectopic gastric or pancreatic mucosa, anticoagulation, or parasites. Spontaneous hemobilia from a blood dyscrasia is unusual. Ischemia of the gallbladder of any etiology could result in hemorrhage secondarily but is rare.
  • 29.
    • Markedly thickened gallbladder wall containing a layering echogenic fluid-fluid level high attenuation gallbladder wall • CT showing gall bladder containing a layering high attenuation fluid-fluid level representing blood or, less likely, pus .
  • 30.
    VIII-CCC with Pseudoaneurysmof cystic artery • Pseudoaneurysms arise as a consequence of visceral inflammation adjacent to the arterial wall, which leads to damage to the adventitia and thrombosis of the vasa vasorum resulting in localized weakness in the vessel wall. These are prone to rupture.
  • 31.
    • Cystic arteryrelated pseudoaneurysms may occur following an episode of acute cholecystitis or following cholecystectomy. However, in association with acute cholecystitis • The rarity of this complication despite the high incidence of cholecystitis may be due to early thrombosis of the cystic artery in response to inflammation . • It is generally believed that a pseudoaneurysm develops when a large gallstone erodes the cystic artery.
  • 32.
    Ying-Yang sign • Anechoiclesion at the gall bladder neck . • Color doppler shows mosaic appearance of colours. . • Produced by to and fro movement of blood .
  • 33.
  • 34.
    IX-Cholecystitis in ICUpatients • Acalculous Cholecystitis • Occurs in 0.5 to 1.5% of patients in ICU for greater than one week • Patients in intensive care units (ICU) are at risk of developing acalculous cholecystitis as a result of a combination of clinical variables. Patients are usually fasting and are frequently prescribed medications that cause cholestasis, which can lead to stasis of biliary function and acalculous cholecystitis.
  • 35.
    • Features thathave been described: gallbladder wall thickening, gallbladder distention, intramural gallbladder wall lucencies (striated gallbladder wall), pericholecystic fluid, gallbladder sludge, and the presence of a sonographic Murphy's sign. • Gallbladder wall thickening was defined as a transverse wall measurement adjacent to the liver and perpendicular to the sonography beam of greater than 3 mm. • Gallbladder distention was defined as a shortaxis diameter of the gallbladder of 40 mm or greater . • Gallbladder wall lucencies were defined as irregular discontinuous lucent and echogenic bands in the gallbladder wall.
  • 36.
    • Marked gallbladder wall thickening and pericholecystic fluid. • Localized tenderness could not be evaluated.
  • 37.
    • Sagittal sonogram reveals distended gallbladder . Note diffuse anterior gallbladder wall lucencies .
  • 38.
    • Percutaneous cholecystomy using the trocar technique. Ultrasound guides transhepatic access to the gallbladder with a 6F trocar drainage catheter. • After access, the catheter is fed forward to reform the distal pigtail within the gallbladder lumen and is locked in this configuration.
  • 39.
    • Ultrasound andCT studies demonstrate transhepatic cholecystomy catheter in good position, but interval development of markedly worsening gallbladder wall edema and pericholecystic inflammatory changes have occurred. At surgery, gangrenous gallbladder was found and resected successfully.
  • 40.
    X-Parasitic cholecystitis • Severalparasites infest liver or biliary tree, either during their maturation stages or as adult worms. Biliary tree parasites may cause pancreatitis, cholecystitis, biliary tree obstruction, recurrent cholangitis, biliary tree strictures and some may lead to cholangiocarcinoma.
  • 41.
    Clonorhiasis associated cholecystitis • Clonorchiasis is infection with the liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis. Infection is through undercooked freshwater fish. • Clonorchis is endemic in the Far East, especially in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and southern China, and infection occurs elsewhere among immigrants and those eating fish imported from endemic areas.
  • 42.
    CECT • IHBR dilatation. •Hepatic cyst. • Enhanced GB wall. • Intraluminal stone. • Eosinophilic infiltrates with clonorchisis ovum.
  • 43.
    CT shows hyperdense material within grossly distended major intrahepatic bile ducts, which on pathological examination was proven to be a combination of pigmented biliary stones and sludge and Clonorchis flukes. • Several calcified stones can be seen in peripheral ducts on this CT study. • The spleen is enlarged.
  • 44.
    Ascariasis induced • Ascarislumbricoides, which causes ascariasis, is the largest of the round worms (nematodes), with females measuring 30 cm x 0.5 cm. It is present in the GI tract (small intestine) of 1.2–1.5 billion individuals in tropical and subtropical areas, making it the most common nematode infection in the world.
  • 45.
    • Intraluminal tubular filling defect with +/- central canal (GIT)
  • 46.
    Fascioliasis • Eggs ofFasciola hepatica have been found in mummies, showing that human infection was occurring at least as early as Pharaonic times . Indeed, F. hepatica was the first fluke or trematode to be reported.
  • 49.
    Acute Cholecystitis :How Urgent as Revealed by CT Signs ? SUK-PING NG SHE-MENG CHENG SHIN-LIN SHIH Department of Radiology, Mackay Memorial Hospital
  • 50.
    Acute Cholecystitis :How Urgent as Revealed by CT Signs ? SUK-PING NG SHE-MENG CHENG SHIN-LIN SHIH Department of Radiology, Mackay Memorial Hospital
  • 51.
    Group I • Acute cholecystitis with a normal CT. • Mild cholecystitis. • Elective operation.
  • 52.
    Group II • Uncomplicated acute cholecystitis. • Gall bladder distension with wall thickening.
  • 53.
    Group III • HyperdenseGB contents,calcium sludge ,with calcium- fluid level. • Operation revealed He and pus in GB. • Irregular thickening of GB(op.:Gangrenous cholecystitis)
  • 54.
    Group IV • Pericholecystic stranding,intralu minal membrane (OR:acute gangrenous cholecystitis) • Pericholecystic abscess- loculated fluid collection-