The Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Difficult Case of Gallstone Ileus

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon condition that is difficult to diagnose clinically. Although several cases have been reported in the literature, radiolucent gallstones in the setting of gallstone ileus are an exceedingly rare occurrence, and we have not identified any authors who used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the acute diagnosis of this condition. While an MRI is the gold standard for visualizing gallstones, inpatient MRIs are difficult to obtain, even in resource-rich settings. However, if given a high index of suspicion for gallstone ileus, it is pertinent to advocate for an inpatient MRI despite a resolution of patients’ symptoms due to the nature of the disease symptomology.