Chilaiditi syndrome: sonographic findings

Background and methods: Sonographic (US) findings of Chilaiditi syndrome ha ve been rarely reported in the literature. We reviewed 18 cases of Chilaidi ti syndrome to pinpoint its US pattern. Results: (1) US showed gas echoes of different sizes superimposed over the entire liver in two cases and over the right hepatic lobe in six cases, lea ding to a high suspicion of Chilaiditi syndrome. (2) US showed a small gas echo in the hepatodiaphragmatic space, mimicking pneumoperitoneum in eight cases. In this instance, altering the patient's position allowed for confir mation of the lack of a change in the location of the gas echo, unlike case s of pneumoperitoneum. (3) The hepatic surface appeared as a hyperechoic ma ss in two cases. Conclusion: Knowledge of US patterns of Chilaiditi syndrome helps avoid con fusion with pneumoperitoneum or hepatic masses.