RELATIONSHIP OF GALLBLADDER CONTOUR, FASTING VOLUME AND EMPTYING TO BODY-SIZE INDEXES IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS WITH GALLSTONES

Fasting gallbladder volume and fasting gallbladder roundness index (ra tio of anteroposterior diameter to gallbladder length) were estimated by ultrasonography in 182 normal subjects and 43 patients with gallsto nes and correlated to body size indices. In 20 of the normal subjects, gallbladder emptying was assessed and correlated to gallbladder round ness index. Gallstone patients had a larger fasting gallbladder volume as compared to normals (42 +/- 10 vs. 22 +/- 7 (SD) ml, p < 0.001). G allbladder fasting volume was found to be significantly related to rou ndness index (p < 0.001) and body surface area (p < 0.00001) in normal s, but not in patients with cholelithiasis. Subjects with a roundness index >0.3 showed a less-complete gallbladder emptying as compared to those with a roundness index <0.3 (p < 0.01). It is concluded that inc reased body size, but not obesity alone, is associated with an increas ed gallbladder fasting volume, and that a rounder gallbladder tends to empty less completely.