Ultrasound patterns of metastatic tumors in the gallbladder

Eleven cases of sonographically detected metastatic disease to the gallbladder are reported. This paper represents the first comprehensive review of the ultrasonographic findings in this not infrequently encountered disease process. Four distinctive sonographic diagnostic patterns have evolved and are described. The suspicion of metastatic tumors in the gallbladder should be raised, particularly in the presence of focal gallbladder wall thickening in association with nonshadowing intraluminal soft tissue masses. In contrast to primary carcinomas of the gallbladder, cholelithiasis usually is absent. The differential diagnosis, which includes various benign conditions of the gallbladder, is discussed.