Hypointense gallbladder on MR cholangiopancreatography

A few patients show a gallbladder of poor visibility on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) images due to various reasons. A 45-year-old man was referred with abdominal pain and fever. In contrast enhanced computed tomography, several calcified gallstones were observed in the gallbladder. Although a solitary calcified stone was seen in the neck of the gallbladder, neither stones in the common bile duct (CBD) nor dilatation of CBD were observed. On MRCP, hypointense gallbladder with no filling defect in the CBD was observed. Histopathological analysis of the gallbladder, which was obtained by laparoscopic cholecystectomy, confirmed severe chronic cholecystitis with several calcified gallstones up to 0.5 cm in diameter. In conclusion, the finding of hypointense gallbladder on MRCP in patients with cholecystitis and its underlying condition, though rare, should be kept in mind.