Gallbladder Ultrasound: Normal Vs Abnormal Images
Normal images are those which do not show any abnormalities. These images may be normal because they have no abnormality or they may be abnormal because there is something wrong with them.
An image showing a gall bladder tumor (circled) would fall into the category of “abnormal” since it shows signs of cancerous growth. However, these tumors are very rare and most likely benign. A gall bladder tumor is one of the few types of cancers that is often found during gallbladder ultrasound.
The image shown above shows a normal gallbladder ultrasound image. There are no signs of any abnormal structure or structures within the image. The only thing that could cause such an image to be considered abnormal would be if there was some sort of infection present in the gall bladder itself. This type of infection would be seen when the gall bladder is damaged from a surgical operation.
In fact, even though this image does not show any signs of an infection, it still falls under the category of “abnormal.” When gallbladder ultrasound images are examined further, they will usually reveal other findings like blood vessels and other organs within the gallbladder. This is the case with this image as well.
Gallbladder ultrasound images can be used to scan for a number of different issues that would be present in the gall bladder. It’s very important for all those who have any reason to believe that they could have issues with their gallbladder to get such an examination. Gallbladder removal surgery is one of the most common and dangerous surgeries that a person can go through.
Images like this help doctors to determine exactly what issues may be present in the gallbladder. If there are any issues, then they can determine what to do after learning exactly what is going on within the gallbladder.
Gallstones are one of the most common things that can cause damage to the gallbladder. They can either be seen on a gallstone ultrasound or they can be seen on a normal gallbladder ultrasound. It all just depends on the size and number of stones that are present in the gallbladder.
Gallstones rarely lead to any major issues on their own. However, it is usually a combination of things that leads to pain and other medical issues. Gallstones rarely cause any problems until they get into the ducts of the liver. This is when they become inflamed.
Gallstones are not just made up of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a common ingredient found within stones that people develop in their gallbladders. Other things that can be found within stones include pigmentations, bile pigments, calcium, and even small bacteria.
Gallstones are very common in women more than they are in men. In fact, nearly 75% of all people who have gallstones are women. This is due to the fact that women naturally have higher amounts of cholesterol than men do.
While many people believe that obesity is the main cause of gallstones, this is not true. Gallstones can form within people with just a few extra pounds on their frames or none at all.
People who have high cholesterol are more likely to form gallstones since their body produces more cholesterol than most people. But even this isn’t a sure thing. Other factors like age, certain medicines, and genetic factors can all increase one’s risk of developing gallstones.
Once a person has done a gallbladder ultrasound, their doctor can determine if they have gallstones. It should be noted that not all stones will show up on a standard ultrasound. If this is the case, then the doctor may order a special ultrasound to be done to look for them. This special ultrasound is sometimes able to reveal gallstones that are present in the common bile duct.
The common bile duct can be a hiding place for gallstones.
Most gallstones are made of cholesterol, but not all gallstones contain cholesterol. This is why some stones don’t show up on an ultrasound. Most gallstones are so small that they don’t cause any problems and pass through the intestines without any issues at all.
While there are some treatments for gallstones, many people never know they have them at all since they never experience any symptoms. If gallstones are found during a gallbladder ultrasound, then it is very important for the patient to have them removed as soon as possible. This is especially true for people who have large gallstones or multiple stones within their gallbladder.
Patients may not necessarily feel pain if they have gallstones. If anything, they might just experience an upset stomach or diarrhea. Other people may experience severe pain in their upper abdomen. This pain can be located just below the ribs on the right side.
The pain can also be around the middle area of the stomach as well. Other symptoms that may occur are loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, abdominal bloating, indigestion, and even jaundice.
Gallstones rarely make their way into the common bile duct and trigger pain within the liver itself. If a stone does make its way to this duct then the consequences can be very severe. This is known as Cholecystitis and it can cause the following symptoms:
It is not common for stones to travel all the way up the cystic duct and into the liver, but if they do then this can be a life threatening condition. A patient should seek immediate medical treatment if any of these symptoms occur.
Gallstones are not always asymptomatic. Sometimes gallstones can cause pain to immediately trigger within the gallbladder itself. In some cases, gallstones can make their way into the cystic duct and cause pain within the belly itself. This condition is known as Cholecystitis and can be very painful.
Other symptoms that may occur are:
The gallbladder is located within the upper quadrant of the abdomen, under the ribs on the right side of the body. The gallbladder is a small organ that sits on a bed of muscles. It’s function is to store and concentrate bile until it is ready for use. Bile is made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder until it is needed for fat digestion.
After eating fat, the gallbladder contracts and releases bile into the small intestine where it helps with the digestion of fat.
The most common symptom of gallstones is pain. The pain usually occurs in the upper abdomen around the belly button. It can also spread to the right side of the chest as well.
Most people who have gallstones never experience any symptoms at all. This is because many gallstones are “silent”, meaning they don’t trigger any symptoms and can pass through the digestive tract without any issues.
Gallstones are small, stone-like particles that form in the gallbladder. Many patients have them but never experience any symptoms at all. However, if a stone does trigger a symptom it is known as a “gallstone attack” or “biliary colic”. Biliary colic is extremely painful and can be life threatening.
Gallstones are caused by a combination of genetics and diet. Patients who have had a first-degree relative (such as a parent or sibling) with gallstones are at a higher risk of developing them as well.
Moreover, patients with certain dietary habits are also more likely to experience gallstones. These habits include:
A physical exam is performed. The following will be looked for:
The most common test used to diagnose gallstones is a CT scan. A CT scan is a type of X-ray that uses a computer to create images of bones, organs, and tissues within the body. A doctor may also take an ultrasound of a patient’s gallbladder to get a better image of what’s going on inside.
Once gallstones have been confirmed, the next step is to decide how to proceed. If a patient has never had a gallstone attack before, their condition can be watched closely with more tests performed, but no treatment is necessary at this time. This is known as “clinical watch” and is considered to be an outpatient procedure.
Gallstones that are too old to cause an attack, or that are deemed unnecessary to remove, may not require immediate medical attention.
