A Potential Pitfall in POCUS of the Gallbladder: Beware of the Duodenum

POCUS J. 2022 Nov 21;7(2):188-189. doi: 10.24908/pocus.v7i2.15632. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

It is estimated that 20 million people in the United States have gallbladder disease. Of the patients who present to the Emergency Department (ED) with abdominal pain, 3-10% have acute cholecystitis. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) evaluation of the biliary system is a valuable tool to diagnose gallbladder disease and can greatly expedite the diagnostic evaluation of patients. One source of error in POCUS of the gallbladder is imaging nearby structures that can mimic the gallbladder, such as the duodenum.

Keywords: Abdominal point-of-care ultrasound; acute cholecystitis; duodenum; false positive; gallbladder; mimic.

Publication types

  • Case Reports