Sonographic morphology of carcinoma of the gallbladder: A review of 173 cases

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the ultrasonographic features of carcinoma gallbladder in an endemic area. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study from January 1994 to December 1995 of 173 consecutive patients of carcinoma gallbladder presenting in a teaching university hospital, was conducted. US was performed in all patients. Results: The presentation of carcinoma gallbladder was either as a mass (150 patients) or as wall thickening (23 patients). The mass was intraluminal in 93 patients (body - 46, fundus 41, total replacement - six) and infiltrative in 57 patients (neck 32, fundus 23, total 2). Associated gallbladder calculi were present in 112 (65%) patients with ascites in seven. According to the TNM classification there were no patients in stage I, 14 in stage II, 111 in stage III and 48 in stage IV. Conclusions: Early detection of carcinoma of the gallbladder by US is difficult even in an endemic area. Polyps, as a sign of precancer or early cancer were rare in our series. Even in advanced disease US tends to understage the disease when compared to the findings at exploratory laparotomy.