GALLSTONE ILEUS DEMONSTRATED BY CT

Objective: The appearance and evolution of gallstones ileus as seen by CT are reported. Materials and Methods: CT examination was performed on three patients with unspecific abdominal pain. In one patient seque ntial investigations were performed over 7 months. Results: In all cas es the gallbladder was greatly distorted, contained air, and was in di rect continuity with a thickened duodenal wall. The gallstone was dete cted in the small bowel in all cases. In one patient sequential CT exa minations over several months demonstrated the evolution from uncompli cated gallstone disease to cholecystitis and finally to perforation of the gallstone into the duodenal bulb. Conclusion: Awareness of the CT findings in gallstone ileus may result in more rapid diagnosis and tr eatment, which may lead to a decrease in the rather high morbidity and mortality seen in this disease.