The significance of sonographic gallbladder wall thickening.

The value of gallbladder thickening in predicting the presence of acute cholecystitis was assessed by reviewing gallbladder sonograms for 150 normal patients, 15 fasting normal patients, 24 patients with proven acute cholecystitis, 24 patients with ascites or an alcoholic history, and 50 patients with surgically proven chronic cholecystitis and gallstones. Thickened gallbladder walls were found in all patients with ascites, 45 percent of patients with acute cholecystitis, and approximately 10 percent of those with chronic cholecystitis. The finding of gallbladder wall thickening is suggestive evidence of acute cholecystitis, but it is not a pathognomonic finding.