Gallbladder wall thickening

Gallbladder wall thickening, in abdominal ultrasound, indicates an abnormal increase in the thickness of the gallbladder wall, a key diagnostic finding in various medical conditions. This thickening can be a significant sign of inflammation, such as acute cholecystitis, where the gallbladder becomes acutely inflamed due to gallstones obstructing the cystic duct. Understanding this sonographic sign is crucial for prompt and accurate diagnosis in abdominal imaging.

Beyond acute cholecystitis, gallbladder wall thickening may also suggest other conditions like chronic cholecystitis, ascites, hypoalbuminemia, or even adjacent liver disease. Ultrasound is the primary imaging modality for evaluating gallbladder wall thickness, offering a non-invasive and effective way to assess the patient’s abdominal health. Early detection through precise ultrasound examination aids in timely medical intervention and improved patient outcomes.

Clinical Author

Bruno Vargas is originally from Mexico City. He first trained as an Emergency Medical Technician at la Universidad Panamericana (UP) before starting medical school at la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) in Mexico City. Later he did his social service year in the Sierra Madre of Chiapas with Partners in Health Mexico/Compañeros en Salud (CES) in 2019, where he was trained in Global Health, social medicine, and introduced to Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS). At that moment while working in a resource-limited setting he became passionate about POCUS. He graduated as a general practitioner, and afterward stayed with CES during the pandemic as part of the COVID-19 task force, training community healthcare workers and “pasantes” (first-year doctors doing their year of social service). He finished the Ultrasound Leadership Academy (ULA) fellowship and has started a POCUS training program at his site with midwives, nurses, doctors, and trainees from these areas. He is currently doing a Global Health Fellowship with HEAL as a site fellow in Chiapas with CES. He has committed to a lifelong career in global health providing healthcare access to the most marginalized communities. He has a profound respect and admiration for nature and loves any kind of outdoor activities, especially bicycling, high mountain, and scuba-diving.

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