#Comet tail artifact full#

This figure shows a sonogram of a triangular hyperechoic lesion made up of repeatedly reflected beams coming into probe. The ultrasonic beam is repeatedly reflecting on the shallow and deep sides of matter, and the reflected beams are returning to the probe again. Schematic representation of the comet tail artifact.Ī. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the comet tail artifact on ultrasonography can be used as a reliable finding in the diagnosis of benign gallbladder diseases. However, no research has investigated whether the comet tail artifact appears in malignant gallbladder lesions. The presence or absence of the comet tail artifact depends on the configuration of the gallbladder lesions.

It is often accompanied by a thickened gallbladder wall lesion, such as gallbladder adenomyomatosis. The comet tail artifact is a well-known useful reverberation artifact on sonograms. Occasionally, it is difficult to distinguish between benign and malignant gallbladder lesions in cases that do not exhibit specific malignant features, such as minimal wall thickening and comparable enhancement to that of the adjacent normal wall of the gallbladder. However, gallbladder cancer exhibits a variety of imaging features. Many attempts have been made to distinguish between benign and malignant gallbladder lesions using various imaging modalities, such as contrast-enhanced computed tomography and MRI. Imaging features including invasion of the surrounding tissue, growth of large-sized polypoid lesions, and restriction on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are well-known features of malignant gallbladder lesions.

It is important to distinguish between benign and malignant gallbladder lesions because the treatment methods and prognoses are different for each. If an ultrasound examination reveals a thickened gallbladder wall, malignant and benign gallbladder lesions, such as cholecystitis, benign cholesterolosis, and adenomyomatosis, among others, should be distinguished.

#Comet tail artifact full#

Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.Ultrasonography is an essential imaging modality in diagnosing patients with gallbladder disease. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. Copyright of Ultrasonography is the property of Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission.Conclusion: The ultrasonographic finding of the comet tail artifact in patients with thickened gallbladder lesions is associated with the presence of benign gallbladder diseases, and can be considered a reliable sign of benign gallbladder disease.

No malignancies were detected in any of the 150 thickened gallbladder lesions. There were no significant differences in the average length, thickness, or number of comet tail artifacts among the four diagnoses. There were no statistically significant differences in any of the clinical and ultrasonographic findings, with the exception of gallstones (P=0.007), among the four diseases. Results: All gallbladder lesions exhibiting the comet tail artifact on ultrasound examination were confirmed as benign gallbladder diseases after cholecystectomy, including 71 cases of adenomyomatosis (47.3%), 74 cases of chronic cholecystitis (49.3%), two cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (1.3%), and three cases of cholesterolosis (2.0%) there were two cases of coexistent chronic cholecystitis and low-grade dysplasia. This study evaluated the differences in clinical and imaging findings among pathologic diagnoses. The extent of the involved lesion was classified as localized or diffuse, depending on the degree of involvement and the anatomical section of the gallbladder that was involved. Abstract: Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the comet tail artifact on ultrasonography can be used to reliably diagnose benign gallbladder diseases Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the clinical findings, imaging findings, preoperative ultrasonographic diagnoses, and pathological diagnoses of 150 patients with comet tail artifacts who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with pathologic confirmation.