Cholecystitis and hydrops of the gallbladder in the newborn

Inflammatory gallbladder disease is not usually considered in the evaluation of septic newborn infants. When present, the radiographic findings are thought to be sparse. Three instances were recently encountered with radiographic evidence to indicate right upper quadrant abdominal disease. In one, a negative defect on the bodygram phase film of a high volume contrast study demonstrated gallbladder hydrops. Cholecystitis extended to obstruct the pyloroduodenal area with inflammatory reaction in 2 other patients. In all instances, the radiographic changes prompted surgical intervention at an early age.