PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of abdominal ultrasonography (USG) as performed by emergency physicians (EP) after systematic training and to compare it with the performance of a radiologist. METHODS: From 4 March, to 3 October, 2006, we enrolled 368 patients with suspected acute appendicitis and 177 patients with suspected acute cholecystitis. During night hours, abdominal USG was performed by EPs who had been trained for more than 2 years (Group I), and during day, it was performed by a radiologist (Group II). In group I, 201 patients were suspected to have acute appendicitis and 103 patients were suspected to have acute cholecystitis. In group II, 167 patients were suspected to have acute appendicitis and 74 patients were suspected to have acute cholecystitis. We reviewed pathology reports and the final diagnoses of all patients after one month. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and accuracy for each group and then compared the diagnostic accuracy for group I with that of group II using the chisquare test. RESULTS: With suspected acute appendicitis patients, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of USG were 92.0%, 85.2%, 88.9%, 89.3%, and 89.1% for group I and 94.2%, 85.7%, 91.6%, 90.0%, and 91.0% for group II. With suspected acute cholecystitis patients, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of USG were 87.2%, 93.8%, 89.5%, 92.3%, and 91.3% for group I and 92.0%, 93.9%, 88.5%, 95.8%, and 93.2% for group II. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic accuracy between the two groups. (p=0.533, p=0.630) CONCLUSION: In this study, there was no significant difference between EPs and a radiologist in diagnostic accuracy of abdominal USG. This result suggests that diagnostic abdominal USG for acute abdominal diseases, such as acute appendicitis and acute cholecystitis can be appropriately used as a diagnostic modality by emergency physicians who are properly trained in a systematic educational program.
Appendicitis* ; Cholecystitis ; Cholecystitis, Acute* ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography*

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is an uncommon, focal or diffuse destructive inflammatory disease of the gallbladder that is assumed to be a variant of conventional chronic cholecystitis. A 36-year-old male was admitted to Chonnam National University Hospital with a 10-day history of right upper quadrant pain with fever. 15 years ago, he was first diagnosed as having hemophilia A, and has been followed up in the department of Hematology. Computed tomogram (CT) revealed a well-marginated, uniform, marked wall thickening of the gallbladder with multiseptate enhancement. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated diffuse wall thickening of the gallbladder by viewing high signal foci with signal void lesions. After factor VIII replacement, exploration was done. On operation, the gallbladder wall was thickened and the serosa were surrounded by dense fibrous adhesions which were often extensive and attached to the adjacent hepatic parenchyma. There was a small-sized abscess in the gallbladder wall near the cystic duct. Dissection between the gallbladder serosa and hepatic parenchyma was difficult. Cross sections through the wall revealed multiple yellow-colored, nodule-like lesions ranging from 0.5-2 cm. There were also multiple black pigmented gallstones ranging from 0.5-1 cm. The pathologic findings showed the collection of foamy histiocytes containing abundant lipid in the cytoplasm and admixed lymphoid cells. Histologically, it was confirmed as XGC. We report a case with XGC mimicking gallbladder cancer in a hemophilia patient.
Adult ; Case Report ; Cholecystitis/radiography ; Cholecystitis/pathology* ; Cholecystitis/diagnosis ; Gallbladder/ultrasonography ; Gallbladder/pathology ; Histiocytes/pathology ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is an unusual inflammatory disease of the gallbladder characterized by severe proliferative fibrosis and the accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages in areas of destructive inflammation. Its macroscopic appearance may occasionally be confused with gallbladder carcinoma. We present a case of perforated xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis presenting as biloma. An 80-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with a 1-week history of abdominal pain and febrile sensation. Abdominal CT showed a biloma in the subhepatic area. The follow-up CT showed that the biloma increased in size. Therefore, ultrasonography-guided aspiration was performed. The aspirated fluid/serum bilirubin ratio was greater than 5, which was strongly suggestive of bile leakage complicated by perforated cholecystitis. She underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with cyst aspiration and adhesiolysis. A histological diagnosis of perforated xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis was made.
Aged, 80 and over ; Bilirubin/blood ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Drainage ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Granuloma/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Xanthomatosis/*diagnosis/pathology/ultrasonography

No abstract available.
Aged ; Cholecystitis/*diagnosis/radiography/ultrasonography ; Endosonography ; Fatty Liver/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early detection of gallbladder (GB) cancer is essential for better survival rates. Most cases of GB cancer are diagnosed incidentally via pathology of the cholecystectomy specimen. Data on the clinical characteristics of early GB cancer are lacking. The aim of the current study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of early GB cancer to aid earlier diagnosis. METHODS: Sixty-four patients who were diagnosed with early GB cancer after surgical resection at the Samsung Medical Center were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristics, preoperative diagnoses, preoperative tumor size, laboratory findings including carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels, imaging features, and survival rate were investigated. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms and serum tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 levels were not helpful indicators of early GB cancer. Radiologic modalities showed abnormal findings in every case of early GB cancer; a polypoid mass was the most common feature. Less common features included GB wall thickening, cholecystitis, and GB stones. The clinical outcome of early GB cancer was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Screening with imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography (US) is helpful in detecting early GB cancer. Even in the presence of GB wall thickening, cholecystitis, or GB stones on the CT or US, any abnormal findings should prompt careful examination and intensive follow up, considering the possibility of occult gallbladder cancer.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder ; Gallbladder Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Pathology ; Survival Rate ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Ultrasonography