Carla Serra1, Francesca Pallotti1, Mauro Bortolotti2, Carla Caputo1, Cristina Felicani1, Roberto De Giorgio1, Giovanni Barbara1, Elena Nardi1, Antonio Maria Morselli Labate1. 1. Department of Digestive System, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital and University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (C.S., F.P., M.B., C.C., C.F., R.D.G., G.B.); and Laboratory of Biostatistics, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (E.N., A.M.M.L.). 2. Department of Digestive System, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi Hospital and University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (C.S., F.P., M.B., C.C., C.F., R.D.G., G.B.); and Laboratory of Biostatistics, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy (E.N., A.M.M.L.). bormau@tin.it.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare conventional 2-dimensional (2D) B-mode sonography with 3-dimensional (3D) sonography for assessing gallbladder volume and contractility. METHODS: Gallbladder volume and contractility were evaluated in 32 healthy volunteers after fasting and abstinence from smoking for 8 hours and after a standardized balanced liquid meal. The gallbladder was evaluated with 2D sonography (with the use of the ellipsoid method) and with 3D sonography using a volumetric matrix probe. Both measurements were made by an operator who was skilled in sonography and an unskilled operator. The group of volunteers was subdivided into 2 subgroups including 16 participants, which represented the "2 moments" of acquisition by the techniques, particularly for the unskilled operator. RESULTS: The postprandial volumes obtained with 3D sonography were significantly lower in comparison to the volumes obtained with 2D sonography (P= .013), and there was a significant difference between the measurements made by the skilled and unskilled operators only for 2D sonography (P< .001), whereas between the 2 moments of acquisition by the 3D technique, there was no significant difference. The reproducibility of the technique for evaluation of gallbladder volumes was higher for 3D sonography than 2D sonography, particularly for the postprandial evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: The new 3D sonographic method using a volumetric matrix probe is a simple, reliable, and more reproducible technique than conventional 2D sonography, even if performed by an unskilled operator, and it allows a reliable stimulation test for a gallbladder dynamic study.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare conventional 2-dimensional (2D) B-mode sonography with 3-dimensional (3D) sonography for assessing gallbladder volume and contractility. METHODS: Gallbladder volume and contractility were evaluated in 32 healthy volunteers after fasting and abstinence from smoking for 8 hours and after a standardized balanced liquid meal. The gallbladder was evaluated with 2D sonography (with the use of the ellipsoid method) and with 3D sonography using a volumetric matrix probe. Both measurements were made by an operator who was skilled in sonography and an unskilled operator. The group of volunteers was subdivided into 2 subgroups including 16 participants, which represented the "2 moments" of acquisition by the techniques, particularly for the unskilled operator. RESULTS: The postprandial volumes obtained with 3D sonography were significantly lower in comparison to the volumes obtained with 2D sonography (P= .013), and there was a significant difference between the measurements made by the skilled and unskilled operators only for 2D sonography (P< .001), whereas between the 2 moments of acquisition by the 3D technique, there was no significant difference. The reproducibility of the technique for evaluation of gallbladder volumes was higher for 3D sonography than 2D sonography, particularly for the postprandial evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: The new 3D sonographic method using a volumetric matrix probe is a simple, reliable, and more reproducible technique than conventional 2D sonography, even if performed by an unskilled operator, and it allows a reliable stimulation test for a gallbladder dynamic study.