The sonographic aspects of haemobilia. Clinical and experimental study.

The sonographic aspect of the gallbladder in seven cases of haemobilia is analysed. The changes include a diffuse echogenic gallbladder content during the initial stage. Later, irregular shaped inhomogeneous non shadowing masses are seen in the dependent parts of the lumen. This variable aspect was studied in an experimental model by percutaneous injection of blood in the gallbladder of Guinea pigs. The hyperechoic gallbladder content, seen early after injection is a transitory phenomenon which seems related to red cell aggregation before coagulation occurs. During the later stage the intraluminal masses were shown by histology to represent bloodclots. In a patient the observation of such a rapid evolution from diffuse hyper-reflectivity to less reflective masses is strongly suggestive of haemobilia.