Sonographic findings in primary carcinoma of the gallbladder.

The sonographic appearance in 4 cases of primary carcinoma of the gallbladder is correlated with the surgical and pathological findings. A fungating tumor had the greatest chance of resection, with findings dependent on the location and size of the mass. Infiltrating lesions were highly malignant. In less advanced cases, tumor infiltration caused irregular thickness of the gallbladder wall which was readily distinguishable from edema due to cholecystitis. In advanced cases, gallstones and stone shadowing coexistent with the tumor were important diagnostic clues, permitting differentiation between primary gallbladder carcinoma and neoplasms originating elsewhere. Sonography can provide critical diagnostic information which cannot be obtained by other conventional procedures.