Ultrasound of the gallbladder is used to diagnose diseases such as cholelithiasis, acute and chronic cholecystitis, congenital malformations, polyps, and malignant tumors. It is carried out together with studies of the pancreas and liver, since the functions of these organs are interrelated.
A complete exclusion of nutrition for eight to twelve hours is a condition under which the ultrasound of the gallbladder is performed. Preparation for this diagnostic measure also implies the exclusion of strong tea and coffee, smoking, products that enhance the secretion of bile (chewing gum). The study is carried out in different positions, the patient must change the position of the body - on the left side, lying on his back, sitting. This helps to evaluate the mobility of structures that are inside the gallbladder. For example, stones of a given organ are displaced when the body position changes, and this is an additional diagnostic parameter. If on the eve of the patient had a hearty dinner, the contraction of the gall bladder will appear on the ultrasound. To avoid this, before conducting the study, the patient takes fatty foods, which contributes to the secretion of this organ.
Ultrasound of the gallbladder helps to most accurately determine the congenital malformations of this organ. The main such malformations include agenesis, ectopic localization, bifurcation of the organ, the formation of multiple partitions, diverticula, an increase or decrease in size. Agenesis means the absence of the gallbladder, which is congenital. With ectopic localization, the organ is in a place uncharacteristic for it: between the right lobe of the liver and the diaphragm, retroperitoneally. Diverticulum - protrusion of the gallbladder wall. An increase or decrease in the organ can indicate serious diseases such as cholecystitis, obstruction of the ducts, and viral hepatitis.
Ultrasound of the gallbladder is the main diagnostic method for detecting stones in this organ. They can form at a young age and increase over time. As a result, cholelithiasis develops, which can be caused by rapid weight loss, obesity, poor diet, ethnic characteristics, and cephalosporin antibiotics. Stones in most cases have a mixed structure (calcium bilirubinate, cholesterol, calcium carbonate). Uzi helps to easily detect such formations. It is characterized by the presence of an echo shadow, the appearance of which is explained by the impermeability for the ultrasound of the surface of the stones. With very small sizes, the shadow may not be detected.
For the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis , ultrasound of the gallbladder is also used. The norm for this organ is the absence of thickening of the wall. It is thickening that serves as the main sign of this disease. Another sign can be called the occurrence of painful sensations when pressed with a sensor in the right hypochondrium, where the gallbladder is located. With inflammation of this organ, the accuracy of diagnosis reaches 80%. During this study, it is possible to detect complications of acute cholecystitis: biliary-small intestinal fistula, the formation of emphysema, the appearance of hemorrhages, perforations, empyema, the development of gangrene.
Ultrasound of the gallbladder also allows you to diagnose malignant tumors and polyps. The most common neoplasm is adenocarcinoma. Polyps have no clinical manifestations. However, their size must be considered. If this parameter is one centimeter or more, then there is a possibility of malignancy. When conducting an ultrasound, it is impossible to determine exactly the type of polyp, therefore, in any case, surgical removal of this formation is indicated.