Negative gallbladder stones: Diagnostic advantages of dual-energy CT and analysis of a unique case

Abstract

Summary: Background: Gallbladder stones are a common digestive system disease, but their diagnosis can be limited in some cases, especially in identifying ''negative'' stones, which may be difficult to recognize with traditional CT scans. Objective: This study aims to explore the advantages of dual-energy CT in diagnosing negative gallbladder stones through a unique case of gallbladder stones. Methods and results: A case of a 31-year-old female is described, who was diagnosed with gallbladder stones during a physical examination two years ago and occasionally experienced pain in the upper right abdomen. Dual-energy CT scanning revealed a mixed-density stone, approximately 2 cm in diameter, in the neck of the gallbladder, consisting of a calcified shell (positive stone) and a homogenous density nucleus (negative stone). Verified by dual-energy CT, single-energy images and spectral curves can very intuitively identify negative stones, demonstrating significantly superior performance compared to traditional CT. Conclusion: Dual-energy CT, through single-energy images and spectral curves, intuitively identifies negative gallbladder stones, showcasing significant advantages compared to traditional CT, and offers a valuable approach to enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of gallbladder stones.

Keywords

• Gallbladder stones
• Dual-energy CT
• Negative stones
• Diagnosis
• Spectral curve