Rigler triad
Description
Imaging findings in patients with gallstone ileus:
- an ectopic gallstone causing
- partial or complete small bowel obstruction, and
- pneumobilia and/or gallbladder lumen gas
Rigler triad: 1. pneumobilia; 2. small bowel obstruction; 3. ectopic calcified gallstone
Case courtesy of Assoc Prof Frank Gaillard. Case rID: 6906
History of the Rigler triad
1941 – Leo George Rigler (1896-1979) described two cases, observed at autopsy, in which the manner of development of a choledochoduodenal and a cholecystoduodenal fistula could be demonstrated.
The specific signs which permit a roentgenologic diagnosis of this condition are evidences of dynamic ileus, presence of gas or contrast medium in the biliary tract and direct or indirect visualization of the calculus.
In 13 of 14 cases of gallstone obstruction in which roentgen examination was made, the exact diagnosis could have been made from the roentgenograms alone
Rigler, JAMA 1941
Associated Persons
- Leo George Rigler (1896-1979)
Alternative names
- Rigler’s triad
References
Historical references
- Rigler LG, Borman CN, Noble JF. Gallstone obstruction: pathogenesis and roentgen manifestations. JAMA. 1941; 117(21): 1753-1759
Eponymous term review
- Lassandro F, Romano S, Ragozzino A, Rossi G, Valente T, Ferrara I, Romano L, Grassi R. Role of helical CT in diagnosis of gallstone ileus and related conditions. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2005 Nov;185(5):1159-65
- Rippy J. Ultrasound Case 032. LITFL
- Bickle I. Rigler triad (gallstone ileus). Radiopaedia
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eponymictionary
the names behind the name
Third year M.D. student at the University of Notre Dame Fremantle. Passionate about emergency and retrieval medicine, rural practice and clinical research
