EFFERVESCENT GALLBLADDER - SONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN EMPHYSEMATOUS CHOLECYSTITIS

We report a case of emphysematous cho lecystitis with the sonographic appearance of an ''effervescent gallbladder''-a large amount of gas bu bbles rising like bubbles in a glass of champagne from the dependent p art of the gallbladder and floating to the nondependent part. The etio logy of this finding was acute obstruction of the distal common bile d uct by a stone and purulent cholangitis. Shortterm follow-up sonograph y is important to confirm the diagnosis of cholecystitis. (C) 1998 Joh n Wiley & Sons, Inc.