CLINICAL UTILITY OF RADIOLOGICAL IMAGING IN THE EVALUATION OF GALLSTONE ILEUS
Abstract
Objective: Gallstone ileus is a rare complication of cholelithiasis. It occurs as a result of the passage of bile stones into intestinal system via bilioenteric fistulae, which are formed by recurrent attacks of cholecystitis, and obstruction of the intestinal lumen. The objective of our study was to discuss the imaging findings of gallstone ileus among patients diagnosed at our center.
Material and Methods: Among patients that admitted to our hospital’s radiology department between December 2016 and January 2019, the medical records of those with a history of gall bladder stone detected on ultrasonography were retrospectively evaluated. Among those, cases of gallstone ileus were identified. Admission complaints, age, sex, comorbidities, radiological imaging findings, fistula localization, stone size, and obstruction level were recorded and analyzed.
Results: Among 958 patients with bile stones, 342 (35.7%) were male and 616 (64.3%) were female. Gallstone ileus was identified in five patients. Three of them were female (mean age 76.67± 13.05 years) and 2 were male (mean age 59±1.41 years). Ileus signs were detected on plain radiograms for all patients. The gallbladders were not clearly visualized by ultrasonography in any of patients with gallstone ileus. A diameter increase suggestive of ileus was detected in visualizable intestinal segments. Computed tomography to identify the cause of ileus revealed air in the bile ducts, cholecystoduodenal fistula, stones in intestinal lumen, and an appearance consistent with ileus proximal to that segment. The mean size of the stones was 26.20±16.3 mm (16-55 mm).
Conclusion: Although gallstone ileus is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction, it should be definitely remembered in the differential diagnosis in patients with advanced age and a history of cholelithiasis who present to the emergency department.
Keywords
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Health Care Administration
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Adnan Özdemir
This is me
Türkiye
Yunus Yılmazsoy
0000-0001-7293-2059
Türkiye
Serdar Arslan
0000-0001-7984-4326
Türkiye
Faruk Pehlivanlı
0000-0002-2175-8756
Türkiye
Publication Date
December 31, 2019
Submission Date
July 11, 2019
Acceptance Date
December 15, 2019
Published in Issue
Year 2019 Volume: 21 Number: 3