[US and CT findings of mucinous carcinomas of the gallbladder]

Nihon Igaku Hoshasen Gakkai Zasshi. 1994 Dec 25;54(14):1359-67.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Mucinous carcinomas of the gallbladder are relatively uncommon. Their radiological findings have not been described previously. We describe the CT and US findings of mucinous carcinoma of the gallbladder in 3 cases. Tumors (thickened wall and/or intraluminal polypoid mass) showed hyperechogeneity or isoechogeneity on US and water density on CT. US clearly detected large polypoid lesions, but CT was unable to detect these lesions in 2 cases. Therefore, we stressed the discrepancy between the findings of US and CT. These features can be explained by the fact that a tumor containing a large amount of mucin produces a mass of near-water density in the gallbladder on CT. It is of value to know the radiological findings of these tumors because the diagnosis is easily missed by CT study alone.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / diagnostic imaging*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / ultrastructure*
  • Aged
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / pathology
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / ultrastructure*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed