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Radiology, Vol 199, 679-682, Copyright © 1996 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Nonvisualization of the fetal gallbladder: frequency and prognostic importance

BS Hertzberg, MA Kliewer, C Maynor, PJ McNally, JD Bowie, HH Kay, ML Hage and E Livingston
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

PURPOSE: To assess the frequency of fetal gallbladder visualization through gestation and to determine the prognostic importance of nonvisualization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demonstration of the gallbladder was prospectively attempted in 578 consecutive second- and third-trimester obstetric ultrasound examinations. Data regarding gallbladder visualization were stratified into subgroups on the basis of estimated gestational age. Postnatal follow-up was performed in 80 fetuses with nonvisualization of the gallbladder. RESULTS: The gallbladder was seen on 477 of 578 (82.5%) fetal sonograms. The likelihood of gallbladder visualization increased with advancing gestational age, reaching a plateau of approximately 95% between 24 and 32 weeks. After 32 weeks, the frequency of visualization declined. Seventy-five of the 80 fetuses with nonvisualized gallbladders who underwent follow-up had normal outcomes. Except for one fetus with trisomy 21, all fetuses with abnormalities had relatively minor, non- life threatening problems that did not involve the gallbladder or biliary tract. CONCLUSION: Most fetuses with nonvisualization of the gallbladder have normal outcomes. The rate of nonvisualization of the fetal gallbladder is sufficiently high to undermine the utility of gallbladder visualization as a screen for fetal abnormality.


This article has been cited by other articles:


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 J Ultrasound MedHome page
L. L. Kinoshita, P. W. Callen, R. A. Filly, and L. M. Hill
Sonographic Detection of Gallbladder Duplication: Two Cases Discovered In Utero
J. Ultrasound Med., December 1, 2002; 21(12): 1417 - 1421.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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 RadiologyHome page
S. Blazer, E. Z. Zimmer, and M. Bronshtein
Nonvisualization of the Fetal Gallbladder in Early Pregnancy: Comparison with Clinical Outcome
Radiology, August 1, 2002; 224(2): 379 - 382.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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