INFLAMED PERICHOLECYSTIC FAT - COLOR DOPPLER FLOW IMAGING AND CLINICAL-FEATURES

PURPOSE: To analyze the color Doppler flow imaging features and clinic al importance of inflamed pericholecystic fat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients with surgically proved right upper quadrant inflammator y lesions in the gallbladder or the pericholecystic space underwent co lor Doppler sonography (CDS). Findings in the pericholecystic space we re correlated with those at computed tomography (CT) in four patients and with surgical findings in 40 patients. RESULTS: CDS performed in 1 2 (30%) of the 40 patients demonstrated echogenic pericholecystic mass es greater than 1 cm in diameter that contained internal vascularity. CT in four patients and surgical findings in all 12 patients demonstra ted inflamed fat adherent to the gallbladder. CONCLUSION: Identificati on with CDS of inflamed pericholecystic fat may provide preoperative i nformation that could be pertinent in the decision to perform open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with acute cholecystitis.