In abdominal ultrasound, Courvoisier’s sign refers to the presence of a palpable, non-tender gallbladder in a patient with painless jaundice. This clinical finding strongly suggests an obstruction of the common bile duct, typically due to a malignancy in the head of the pancreas or bile duct, rather than gallstones. Its presence helps differentiate the cause of biliary obstruction.
On ultrasound, the gallbladder in Courvoisier’s sign appears distended without signs of inflammation or cholelithiasis. Recognizing this sign is crucial for prompt diagnosis and management of underlying pancreaticobiliary pathology in medical and general imaging settings. It guides further investigation into potential cancerous conditions impacting the abdominal area.
