WES sign: Difference between revisions

No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
==Background==
==Background==
The "wall echo shadow" (WES) sign is observed in patients with a contracted gallbladder around a large gallstone.  There are two parallel hyperechoenic lines (Wall) separated by a hypoechoic space (Echo), and distal shadowing (Shadow) from the gallstone.   Patients with multiple gallstones can also produce the finding if the gallbladder is contracted around them. It can also be seen in a "porcelain gallbladder." The sign can distinguish a gallstone from a loop of bowel when the entirety of the gallbladder is not visible due to the large shadowing. <ref>Rybicki FJ. The WES sign. Radiology. 2000;214 (3): 881-2[http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/pdf/10.1148/radiology.214.3.r00mr38881 PDF]</ref><ref>Macdonald F. et al. The WES triad - a specific sonographic sign of gallstones in the contracted gallbladder. Gastrointest Radiol. 1981;6 (1): 39-41</ref>
*"Wall Echo Shadow" (WES) sign
*Consists of two parallel hyperechoenic lines (Wall) separated by a hypoechoic space (Echo), and distal shadowing (Shadow) from the gallstone.
**Typically observed in patients with a contracted gallbladder around a single large gallstone
**Patients with multiple gallstones can also produce the finding if the gallbladder is contracted around them
**Can also be seen in a "porcelain gallbladder"  
*The WES sign can distinguish a gallstone from a loop of bowel when the entirety of the gallbladder is not visible due to the large shadowing.<ref>Rybicki FJ. The WES sign. Radiology. 2000;214 (3): 881-2[http://pubs.rsna.org/doi/pdf/10.1148/radiology.214.3.r00mr38881 PDF]</ref><ref>Macdonald F. et al. The WES triad - a specific sonographic sign of gallstones in the contracted gallbladder. Gastrointest Radiol. 1981;6 (1): 39-41</ref>


==Images==
==Images==
Line 10: Line 15:
==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Radiology]][[Category:GI]]
 
[[Category:Radiology]]
[[Category:GI]]

Revision as of 19:17, 7 July 2017

Background

  • "Wall Echo Shadow" (WES) sign
  • Consists of two parallel hyperechoenic lines (Wall) separated by a hypoechoic space (Echo), and distal shadowing (Shadow) from the gallstone.
    • Typically observed in patients with a contracted gallbladder around a single large gallstone
    • Patients with multiple gallstones can also produce the finding if the gallbladder is contracted around them
    • Can also be seen in a "porcelain gallbladder"
  • The WES sign can distinguish a gallstone from a loop of bowel when the entirety of the gallbladder is not visible due to the large shadowing.[1][2]

Images

"Wall Echo Shadow" (WES Sign) Non-obstructing gallstones within a contracted gallbladder

See Also

References

  1. Rybicki FJ. The WES sign. Radiology. 2000;214 (3): 881-2PDF
  2. Macdonald F. et al. The WES triad - a specific sonographic sign of gallstones in the contracted gallbladder. Gastrointest Radiol. 1981;6 (1): 39-41