Polyarteritis Nodosa of the Gallbladder : A Case Report

Kim, Yong Soo; Jeon, Eui Yong; Rhim, Hyun Chul; Kon, Byung Hee; Cho, On Koo; Park, Dong Woo; Park, Choong Ki; Baik, Hong Kyu; Jang, Se Jin

Journal of Korean Society of Medical Ultrasound 1996;15(2): 193-196.

Yong Soo Kim, Eui Yong Jeon, Hyun Chul Rhim, Byung Hee Kon, On Koo Cho, Dong Woo Park, Choong Ki Park, Hong Kyu Baik, Se Jin Jang

Department of Diagnostic Radiology1, General Surgery2, Pathology3, Hanyang University College of Medicine

ABSTRACT

Polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis involving predominantly small and medium sized arteries,which may affect various organs, especially heart and kidney. In autopsy series, gallbladder involvement is foundin 10∼40% of cases. Rarely, it presents initially as acute cholecystitis, clinically. We report a case ofpolyarteritis nodosa initially presented as an acute acalculous hemorrhagic cholecystitis, which showed thickenedgallbladder wall and characteristic nondependent and nonlayering intraluminal echoes on ultrasonogram, and waspathologically diagnosed.

Keywords: Gallbladder. US, Gallbladder. hemorrhage, Gallbladder. vasculitis