Gallbladder Ultrasound: How to Prepare and What to Expect

The gallbladder, a small hollow organ located beneath the liver, plays a crucial role in digestion by storing and releasing bile—a substance that helps break down fats in the small intestine, enabling nutrient absorption. However, when deposits or infections develop within the gallbladder, they can lead to upper abdominal pain and difficulty digesting certain foods.

In this article, we’ll cover the purpose of a gallbladder ultrasound, how to prepare for the scan, and how to access and understand your results.

 

What is a gallbladder ultrasound?

A gallbladder ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive imaging test that uses soundwaves to create and capture internal images of the gallbladder, so your doctor can confirm the issue stems from your gallbladder and is not liver disease, or digestive and kidney diseases. It is typically an abdominal ultrasound scan.

The ultrasound technician can answer questions about the procedure itself but is not allowed to discuss the results of your ultrasound with you. After analysis by a radiologist, your results will be sent to your referring physician.

The process usually takes about a week. With PocketHealth, you can easily access results (in the form of images and a report) from your gallbladder scan, often as soon as they’re released by the radiologist.

 

What is a gallbladder ultrasound used for?

If you experience radiating abdominal pain accompanied by nausea, fever and/or jaundiced skin, your doctor might refer you for a gallbladder ultrasound. A gallbladder ultrasound can help your healthcare team confirm or deny several conditions, including:

• Gallstones (cholelithiasis): Almost 15% of the population has gallstones: small, hard deposits that can crystalize in the gallbladder. Gallstones usually form in the gallbladder itself but can also emerge in the bile ducts. Many gallstones are asymptomatic, but some become inflamed, causing pain or infection.
• Acute cholecystitis: The inflammation or infection of the gallbladder itself, cholecystitis is often linked to gallstones but can appear on its own. Gallbladder empyema is a complication of cholecystitis in which the lumen, the empty gallbladder sac, becomes filled with pus.
• Cancer: Gallbladder cancer is rare, with fewer than 12,500 cases expected per year. However, it can be serious, as cancer isn’t usually found in the gallbladder until it has advanced.
• Hardening: Also known as porcelain gallbladder, this condition might be linked to gallstones, although the connection is not definite.
• Polyps: A clump of cell tissue appearing on the lining of the gallbladder, polyps can grow on the surface or on a stalk. Most gallbladder polyps are benign.
• Rupture: Gallstones, inflammation or injury can occasionally cause the gallbladder wall to leak or tear, resulting in sudden sharp pain.

Gallbladder ultrasound vs. CT scan

When it comes to imaging techniques, ultrasound scans are the most effective for diagnosing gallbladder conditions. However, a CT scan is the test best suited to exploring suspected gallbladder cancer.

 

How to prepare for a gallbladder ultrasound?

Bring your health card or ID with you to the hospital or imaging clinic. You will likely be asked to refrain from eating fatty foods the day before your scan. As with all imaging tests, be sure to read your gallbladder ultrasound requisition for any special instructions. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the imaging center if you have any questions or need clarification.

Dos and don’ts before your scan

Following these tips can help you be better prepared for your ultrasound scan.

Do

• Read your requisition for any special instructions about diet, fasting, etc.
• Inform your doctor and the imaging clinic of any medications when your scan is booked. You may be asked to refrain from taking them before your scan.
• Wear comfortable clothes you can easily remove, as you may be required to change into a hospital gown.
• Remove all jewelry before your scan.

Don’t

• Eat for 6-12 hours before your scan, to give your gallbladder and digestive system a chance to empty.
• Drink during the same period. You may be allowed a small amount of water: your requisition should have the exact details.

How is the test performed?

You may be asked to empty your bladder before your gallbladder ultrasound. During the scan, you will most likely be asked to lie face up on the exam table. The technician, also called a sonographer, will spread a sound conducting gel on the surface of your skin, then run a transducer through it.

The transducer will emit high-frequency soundwaves which will bounce off your internal structures and tissues, creating echoes. Those echoes are then compiled into images which can be seen in real time.

An ultrasound is a safe and non-invasive imaging test. The pressure of the transducer may cause slight discomfort, but it should not be painful. The test should take approximately 30 minutes.

After your scan

After your gallbladder ultrasound, you can dress and go about your day as usual. There is no recovery period.

The sonographer cannot answer any questions about the results of your scan and will forward your results to a radiologist for analysis and interpretation.

When will I get my results?

The radiologist will send the images and a report to your referring physician who will discuss the results with you at a follow up appointment. The process usually takes about a week, but this timing varies due to a number of factors.

With PocketHealth, you can have early access to your images and report, often as soon as they’re released by the radiologist. The better prepared you are for your follow-up appointment, the more informed and targeted your conversation with your doctor will be.

You’ll likely want to ask your doctor questions, such as:

• Did my ultrasound contain any abnormal findings?
• Can we alleviate my symptoms?
• How do we treat the underlying cause?
• What are the next steps?

MyCare Navigator provides you with personalized questions to ask your doctor, to better steer your follow-up discussion. It also highlights any recommendations in your report, so you’ll always know what comes next.

Ruth used PocketHealth to access and understand her medical records. “I love having access to my reports. It helps me feel like I’m in control of my health.” You can read more of Ruth’s story here.

 

Understanding my results: normal vs abnormal

Ultrasound images appear in shades of white, gray and black, and the report will contain complex medical terminology and abbreviations. This page explains the basics of how to read an ultrasound. And while PocketHealth Report Reader is not meant to replace medical advice, it can provide clear explanations of the terms contained in your report, so you can be fully informed when you meet with your doctor.

Gallbladder ultrasound findings tend to fall into two groups, normal and abnormal. Abnormal findings in the gallbladder ultrasound typically show up as hypoechoic masses. The below is for general guidance only: contact your physician to discuss the results specific to your report.

Normal findings

• The gallbladder wall will be thin (<3mm)
• The overall shape will resemble a pear
• In terms of size, it will be between 7-10 cm long and 3-4 cm wide
• It won’t produce echoes (e.g. anechoic), which means it will appear dark or black in images
• The bile ducts will show no signs of dilation or obstruction

Abnormal results

• Gallstones produce echoes, and will therefore appear lighter or white on the scan
• A distended shape that does not resemble a pear
• A thick gallbladder wall (>3mm)
• Polyps on the interior surface or emerging from stalks
• Signs of inflammation, pus or sludge
• Dilation or obstruction of the bile ducts

 

Frequently asked questions

Is a gallbladder ultrasound external or internal?

Gallbladder ultrasounds are external scans, non-invasive and generally painless.

Why can’t you drink water before a gallbladder ultrasound?

Fasting and refraining from drinking water means your gallbladder will be more fully extended, so the ultrasound can adequately gauge the thickness of its walls. Your gallbladder is also more clearly visible if the gastrointestinal tract is empty.

Can I pee before a gallbladder ultrasound?

Yes. In fact, you may be asked to pee before your gallbladder ultrasound. The technician will let you know.

 

Stay on top of your health with PocketHealth

If you are referred for a gallbladder ultrasound due to acute abdominal pain or suspected gallbladder disease, PocketHealth can provide you with secure access to your medical reports and images on any device.

You can use the platform to share your images, get easy-to-understand definitions of medical terms with Report Reader and even a list of personalized questions to ask your doctor through My Care Navigator.

PocketHealth can help you be a prepared and active participant in your health journey.