PATHOLOGY OF THE GALBLADDER STUDY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025

PATHOLOGY OF THE GALBLADDER STUDY QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2025


QUESTION: prominent GB - ANSWER--secondary to: fasting, diabetes, long illness, pancreatitis or drugs

-GB may fail to contract

-give a fatty meal to make GB contract

-if doesn't, check pancreatic area; liver for dilated ducts




QUESTION: Courvoisier's sign = - ANSWER--an extrahepatic mass compressing CBD, causing bile to back
up, thus enlarging the GB




QUESTION: jaundice - ANSWER--characterized by presence of bile in tissues caused by an excess of
bilirubin in bloodstream

-results in yellow-green color of skin, mucous membranes and sclera

-may develop due to small stone blocking bile ducts between GB and intestines




QUESTION: sludge - ANSWER--thickened bile = abnormal finding

-frequently from bile stasis (slowing of bile flow)

-gravity dependent - changing pt. position should change sludge position

,QUESTION: causes of sludge - ANSWER--prolonged fasting

-hyperalimentation therapy (total parenteral nutrition TPN or IV nutrition

-obstruction of GB




QUESTION: sludge sono findings - ANSWER--may have prominent GB with low level internal echoes

-may be isoechoic to liver

-may be full of sediment or may be fluid-fluid level

-may be seen with cholelithiasis (gallstones)

-may mimic polyp or mass; so roll pt.




QUESTION: tumor vs sludge - ANSWER--tumor should have internal vascularity while sludge should not

-sludge is gravity dependent

-tumor should stay attached to wall




QUESTION: wall thickness causes - ANSWER--normal </= 3mm

-biliary causes: cholecystitis, adenmyomatosis, cancer, AIDS, cholangiopathy and sclerosing cholangitis

-non biliary causes: diffuse liver disease, pancreatitis, portal hypertension and heart failure




QUESTION: thickened wall sono findings - ANSWER--thickness measured anterior wall

-done in TRV

, -reduce gain to clearly demarcate wall from liver

-measure outer to outer

-"wall appears thickened"




QUESTION: acute cholecystitis - ANSWER--inflammation of GB

-most common cause: cholelithiasis (gallstones) which may create cystic duct obstruction causing GB
distention, ischemia and infection

-in majority of pts., stone will disimpact on its own

*3X more frequent in females*




QUESTION: acute cholecystitis symptoms - ANSWER--acute RUQ pain

-positive Murphy's sign

-fever

-leukocytosis

-abnormal labs (increased serum bilirubin, Alk Phos)

*complications = empyema, emphysematous or gangrenous cholecystitis and perforation




QUESTION: acute cholecystitis sono findings - ANSWER--GB wall > 3mm

-distended GB lumen > 4cm

-gallstones

-impacted stone