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The size and contractility of the gallbladder in infants

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Abstract

The size of the gallbladder and the common bile duct as well as the contractility of the gallbladder were measured in infants under the age of 1 year. A total of 43 healthy infants were studied at their routine visit to the well-baby clinic at the ages of 6 weeks, 4 months, 8 months or 12 months. Gallbladder size was measured before and after a test meal. Fasting gallbladder size increased with the age of the infants. However, when the size was corrected for the infant's weight, no age-related variation was found. The contraction index (CI) was determined as a percentage decrement of planimetric gallbladder size from the initial size. The mean CI declined with age from 75% (±27%) mean (±SD)) at the age of 6 weeks to 24% (±28%) at the age of 12 months. Overall CI varied from −44% to 100%. An increase in gallbladder size after the test meal was observed in 4 infants. Gallbladder volumes were also calculated, but two-dimensional measurements were regarded as more accurate in infants. A large variation was found in the size as well as in the contractility of the gallbladder in infants less than 1 year of age.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, 20520, Turku, Finland

    L. Lehtonen & H. Korvenranta

  2. Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Turku University Hospital, 20520, Turku, Finland

    E. Svedström

Authors
  1. L. Lehtonen
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  2. E. Svedström
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  3. H. Korvenranta
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Lehtonen, L., Svedström, E. & Korvenranta, H. The size and contractility of the gallbladder in infants. Pediatr Radiol 22, 515–518 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02012998

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02012998

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