Final answer:
In acute cholecystitis, a thick gallbladder wall is a common ultrasound finding but not present in all cases, as 25% may appear normal. Diagnosis is made by combining clinical signs with other imaging and diagnostic studies.
Step-by-step explanation:
When dealing with acute cholecystitis, you can't always depend on seeing a thickened gallbladder (GB) wall, because about 25% of cases will show a GB wall that appears normal on imaging studies.
Acute cholecystitis is the inflammation of the gallbladder, usually due to a gallstone obstructing the cystic duct. This condition can be diagnosed with a combination of clinical presentation, such as right upper quadrant pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever, as well as imaging techniques like ultrasound.
While a thickened GB wall on an ultrasound is a common finding, it's not present in every case, thereby necessitating the consideration of other diagnostic criteria. Other diagnostic tools can include a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan, which can provide functional information about the gallbladder.