J Korean Radiol Soc.  1988 Dec;24(6):1068-1074. 10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.6.1068.

Cholescintigraphic findings of acute cholecystitis emphasized on the rim sign

• Lim SH
• Kim CG
• Kim BC
• Won JJ
• Chae KM

• KMID: 2359180
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.1988.24.6.1068

Abstract

Nonvisualization of gallbladder in cholescintigraphy has been established to be a major and reliable findingfor acute cholecystitis. A rim of increased pericholecystic hepatic activity (PCHA or Rim sign) in conjunctionwith gallblader nonvisualization was reported to be secondary sign of acute cholecystitis. To determine thefrequency and significance of the pericholecystic hepatic activity, we evaluated 217 cholescintigram in patientsclinically suspected of acute cholecystitis. After brief review of cholescintigraphic findings of acutecholecystitis, the significance of the Rim sing is described. 1) The frequency of the Rim sign in surgicallyproved acute cholecystitis was 14.9%. 2) The frequency of Rim sing in complicated acute cholecystitis includinggallbladder empyema and/or pericholecystic abscess (7/22) and in noncomplicated acute cholecystitis (3/45) was31.8%, 6.6% respectively. The present study suggests that the Rim sing appear to indicate relatively highincidence of complicated acute cholecystitis and effort should be made observing the presence of the Rim sing incholescintigraphy.

MeSH Terms

Abscess
Cholecystitis, Acute*
Empyema
Gallbladder