HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ito, K. Articles by Hussain, S. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ito, K. Articles by Hussain, S. M.

Expanded Gallbladder Fossa: Simple MR Imaging Sign of Cirrhosis¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 132 S 10th St, 1096 Main Bldg, Philadelphia, PA 19107 (K.I., D.G.M., T.G., S.M.H.); the Department of Radiology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan (K.I.); the Department of Radiology, Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan (T.G.). Received July 31, 1998; revision requested August 28; revision received October 13; accepted November 19. Address reprint requests to D.G.M.

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency on magnetic resonance (MR) images of a widened pericholecystic space, which the authors call the expanded gallbladder fossa sign, and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of this sign for cirrhosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-hundred thirteen patients who underwent MR imaging were included in this study, including 190 with pathologically proved cirrhosis (cirrhosis patients) and 123 without history of chronic liver diseases (control subjects). MR images were qualitatively evaluated by three independent observers for the presence of the expanded gallbladder fossa sign. This sign was considered present if there was enlargement of the pericholecystic space (ie, gallbladder fossa) and the space was bounded laterally by the edge of the right hepatic lobe and medially by the edge of the left lateral segment, in conjunction with nonvisualization of the left medial segment.

RESULTS: The expanded gallbladder fossa sign was seen in 129 cirrhosis patients and in three control subjects (P < .001). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive value of this sign for the MR diagnosis of cirrhosis were 68%, 98%, 80%, and 98%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The expanded gallbladder fossa sign on MR images is a frequently present, specific indicator of cirrhosis. This sign can be used as a simple and highly specific sign of cirrhosis, if present, despite the overall sensitivity of 68%.

Index terms: Liver, cirrhosis, 761.794 • Liver, MR, 761.121411, 761.121412, 761.121415, 761.12143

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. C. Tan The Right Posterior Hepatic Notch Sign Radiology, July 1, 2008; 248(1): 317 - 318. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. S. d. A. Bezerra, G. D'Ippolito, R. P. Caldana, D. D. Leopoldino, G. R. Batista, D. R. Borges, G. de Jesus Lopes Filho, and M. Ahmed Differentiating Cirrhosis and Chronic Hepatosplenic Schistosomiasis Using MRI Am. J. Roentgenol., March 1, 2008; 190(3): W201 - W207. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Hagiwara, H. Rusinek, V. S. Lee, M. Losada, M. A. Bannan, G. A. Krinsky, and B. Taouli Advanced Liver Fibrosis: Diagnosis with 3D Whole-Liver Perfusion MR Imaging--Initial Experience Radiology, March 1, 2008; 246(3): 926 - 934. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. A. Aguirre, C. A. Behling, E. Alpert, T. I. Hassanein, and C. B. Sirlin Liver Fibrosis: Noninvasive Diagnosis with Double Contrast Material-enhanced MR Imaging. Radiology, May 1, 2006; 239(2): 425 - 437. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Ito, S. Koike, C. Jo, A. Shimizu, H. Kanazawa, M. Miyazaki, S. Yamauchi, and N. Matsunaga Intraportal Venous Flow Distribution: Evaluation with Single Breath-Hold ECG-Triggered Three-Dimensional Half-Fourier Fast Spin-Echo MR Imaging and a Selective Inversion-Recovery Tagging Pulse Am. J. Roentgenol., February 1, 2002; 178(2): 343 - 348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. B. Nascimento, D. G. Mitchell, R. Rubin, and E. Weaver Diffuse Desmoplastic Breast Carcinoma Metastases to the Liver Simulating Cirrhosis at MR Imaging: Report of Two Cases Radiology, October 1, 2001; 221(1): 117 - 121. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Okazaki, K. Ito, T. Fujita, S. Koike, K. Takano, and N. Matsunaga Discrimination of Alcoholic from Virus-Induced Cirrhosis on MR Imaging Am. J. Roentgenol., December 1, 2000; 175(6): 1677 - 1681. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]