Sonographic Diagnosis of Gangrenous Cholecystitis

Gangrenous cholecystitis is an advanced form of acute cholecystitis that is associated with an increased complication rate. Although somewhat controversial, common belief is that patients with nongangrenous acute cholecystitis can be treated medically followed by elective surgery. However, all agree, patients with gangrenous cholecystitis should undergo emergent cholecystectomy. Ultrasound can play an important role in this situation, by helping to differentiate those patients who require emergent surgical therapy from those who do not.