Lessons Learned From Quality Assurance: Errors in the Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis on Ultrasound and CT

Abstract

An important pitfall in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis is lack of recognition of gallbladder wall edema on CT. A relaxed (nondistended) gallbladder provides important evidence against the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Intensive care patients with sepsis often have no specific signs for diagnosis of acute cholecystitis, making diagnosis especially challenging.