[CT in the staging of neoplasms of the gallbladder]

The authors report the results of 50 cases of gallbladder carcinoma studied by means of CT, which were observed since 1984. Twenty-five cases were confirmed at surgery and 25 were selected among those in which CT, clinical history, natural disease evolution and matching with other instrumental and laboratory examinations were highly suggestive of gallbladder carcinoma. The high incidence is reported of such CT signs, which may be considered typical, as the presence of soft tissue in gallbladder area (92%), liver infiltration (78%), and the presence of metastatic lymph nodes (36%); they may or may not be associated to less specific signs. CT appears as the most reliable examination for both diagnosis and staging of the disease. Unfortunately, due to the wide range of aspecific clinical signs, diagnosis is in most cases late and the disease has therefore a fatal outcome.