Hepatisation of the gallbladder

Hepatisation of the gallbladder is a sonographic entity in which the gallbladder lumen is entirely filled with tumefactive sludge giving the gallbladder a similar appearance to liver parenchyma. It is one of the causes of non-visualization of the gallbladder on sonography.

Pathology

In the setting of cholelithiasis, the presence of calculi in the neck of gallbladder leads to excessive accumulation of sludge, resulting in increased echogenicity of the gallbladder, which resembles the echogenicity of the liver.

Radiographic features

Ultrasound

Hepatisation of the gallbladder can be easily differentiated from normal liver parenchyma as it demonstrates absent color flow on color Doppler interrogation.