Ultrasound of the normal neonatal gallbladder

Prospective real-time ultrasonographic examination of the gallbladders of 45 neonates yielded gallbladder images that ranged from 9 to 54 mm in length (mean 30, SD 9.2) and 3 to 15 mm in diameter (mean 8, SD 2.9). Previous reports of gallbladder sonography in neonates are reviewed. Ultrasound is valuable for identifying gallstones, establishing whether a large gallbladder is the cause of a right upper quadrant mass, and following the course of a distended gallbladder. The role of sonography in diagnosing neonatal acalculous cholecystitis is less clear.