Sequential sonographic changes of the gallbladder in hemobilia: case report of a patient with intrahepatic duct stones.

The sonographic features of hemobilia in the gallbladder have been reported with variation, including an echogenic mass, hypoechoic mass, and scattered intraluminal echoes. The sequential sonographic changes of hemobilia in the gallbladder were observed in a 59-year-old male patient with bilateral intrahepatic duct stones. The sonograms of hemobilia in the distended gallbladder initially showed a hyperechoic, homogeneous, movable mass-like lesion, 36 hours before the onset of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding. A hypoechoic mass-like lesion with a hyperechoic ring was found 5 days after the onset of UGI bleeding. A faint hypoechoic mass-like lesion was found 7 days after the onset of UGI bleeding (the day of no further bleeding). Scattered echoic densities were found 9 days after the onset of UGI bleeding, then disappearance of the lesion was noted 12 days after the onset of UGI bleeding. The sonographic patterns of hemobilia in the gallbladder vary depending on the timing of lysis of the blood clot. It should be differentiated from gallbladder cancer, a stone, a polyp, sludge, acute gangrenous cholecystitis, and gallbladder empyema.