Gallbladder contractility in patients with cirrhotic versus malignant ascites

• Published in: Journal of clinical ultrasound 2002-10, Vol.30 (8), p.477-480
• Main Authors: Sari, Ramazan, Yildirim, Bulent, Sevinc, Alper, Bahceci, Funda, Hilmioglu, Fatih
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adult; Aged; ascites; Ascites - etiology; Ascites - physiopathology; Biological and medical sciences; cirrhosis; Female; Gallbladder - diagnostic imaging; Gallbladder - pathology; Gallbladder - physiopathology; gallbladder contractility; Gallbladder Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Gallbladder Diseases - physiopathology; Gallbladder Emptying; gallbladder wall thickening; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary - complications; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary - diagnostic imaging; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary - pathology; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary - physiopathology; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; malignancy; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Peritoneal Neoplasms - complications; Peritoneal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Peritoneal Neoplasms - pathology; Peritoneal Neoplasms - physiopathology; Tumors; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 0091-2751; 1097-0096
• DOI: 10.1002/jcu.10108

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in gallbladder contractility by measuring gallbladder wall thickness, fasting and residual gallbladder volume, and gallbladder ejection fraction in patients with cirrhotic and malignant ascites. Methods Twenty‐four patients (16 women and 8 men) with malignant ascites (2 cervical, 2 colon, 2 stomach, 6 pancreatic, and 12 ovarian carcinomas), aged 59 ± 12 years, and 26 patients (14 women and 12 men) with cirrhotic ascites, aged 57 ± 16 years, were included in the study. After patients fasted overnight for 8 hours, gallbladder wall thickness, fasting gallbladder volume, and gallbladder volume and ejection fraction were measured sonographically at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 minutes after ingestion of a standard liquid test meal. Results The mean gallbladder wall thickness was higher in patients with cirrhotic ascites than in those with malignant ascites (5.5 ± 1.5 mm [standard deviation] versus 3.1 ± 0.6 mm, respectively; p < 0.001). The mean fasting gallbladder volume was also higher in patients with cirrhotic ascites than in those with malignant ascites (27.3 ± 11.5 cm3 versus 17.6 ± 8.9 cm3; p < 0.05). Patients with cirrhotic ascites had significantly higher mean postprandial gallbladder volumes and ejection fractions than did those with malignant ascites at all times except 10 minutes after the meal (p < 0.05). Conclusions Our findings suggest that gallbladder contractility is greater in patients with cirrhotic ascites than in patients with malignant ascites. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 30:477–480, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/jcu.10108