An abscess is a swollen, fluid-filled area within body tissue.
Pericholecystic fluid is one of the signs of cholecystitis.
This is fluid that builds up around the gallbladder and is usually visible on an ultrasound.
Verywell / Laura Porter
What Is a Pericholecystic Abscess?
Pericholecystic abscess is considered a rare complication of cholecystitis.
Cholecystitis is one of several associated complications ofgallbladder disease.
The gallbladder is a small sac-like organ that is located under the liver.
What Causes a Pericholecystic Abscess?
It can show pictures that are very detailed of various body parts.
Sometimes an iodine-based contrast material is injected into the vein before the scan.
This is done to make the images easier to read.
But an ultrasound is not as successful in detecting complicationssuch as pericholecystic abscessesand other underlying complications.
For diagnosing pericholecystic abcesses, a CT scan or an MRI is preferred.
Treatment
To treat a pericholecystic abscess, early diagnosis and intervention is the key to successful outcomes.
The initial treatment for gallbladder perforation may be percutaneous cholecystostomy.
There are many reasons that surgery may not be an option for many people with pericholecystic abscess.
Gallbladder perforations are a serious complication of acute cholecystitis and represent an advanced stage of the disease.
They tend to occur in older people and/or people with comorbidities and carry higher rates of morbidity and mortality.
In many instances, pericholecystic abscesses are not discovered until surgery has begun.
It is considered a life-threatening, emergency complication of acute cholecystitis.
With a delay in diagnosis, acute cholecystitis may have an equal mortality (death) rate.
This is because prompt treatment modalities are not employed, resulting in progression of the disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pericholecystic fluid is the fluid that surrounds the gallbladder.
When a person is believed to have acute cholecystitis, their body can be scanned using asonogram.
Yes, gallbladder rupture can cause death.
This perforation can be the result of generalized biliary peritonitis.
There are a large number of diseases and conditions that can cause a thickened gallbladder wall.
Both ultrasound and a CT scan can be used to detect gallbladder wall thickening.
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