Presentation
Right upper quadrant pain.
Patient Data
Gallbladder echogenicity is similar to the surrounding liver parenchyma. Only thin rim of normal appearing anechoic bile is present at the periphery.
Majority of the gallbladder lumen is filled with T1 hyperintense and T2 hypointense sludge.
Case Discussion
Hepatization of the gallbladder refers to normal gallbladder displaying similar echotexture to the liver on ultrasound. This appearance is due to normal gallbladder full of non-shadowing echogenic bile.
It is one of the causes of non-visualization of gallbladder on ultrasound. Careful real-time examination and Doppler evaluation can help this benign entity to distinguish from liver parenchyma or other pathology, as gallbladder will demonstrate no flow. In rare instances, CT or MRI can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
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