Chilaiditi syndrome: sonographic findings.

BACKGROUND AND

METHODS

Sonographic (US) findings of Chilaiditi syndrome have been rarely reported in the literature. We reviewed 18 cases of Chilaiditi syndrome to pinpoint its US pattern.

RESULTS

(1) US showed gas echoes of different sizes superimposed over the entire liver in two cases and over the right hepatic lobe in six cases, leading to a high suspicion of Chilaiditi syndrome. (2) US showed a small gas echo in the hepatodiaphragmatic space, mimicking pneumoperitoneum in eight cases. In this instance, altering the patient's position allowed for confirmation of the lack of a change in the location of the gas echo, unlike cases of pneumoperitoneum. (3) The hepatic surface appeared as a hyperechoic mass in two cases.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge of US patterns of Chilaiditi syndrome helps avoid confusion with pneumoperitoneum or hepatic masses.