MedPix® Patient Chart - Case No: 3151 :: - Review Images

This 60-year-old woman was seen in the ER with a history of RUQ pain, fever of 101 degrees, a WBC of 12,500 and a palpable RUQ mass. She had had RUQ pain intermittently for six months. The pain had been worse and more constant during the past week. She was not jaundiced. A RUQ sonogram was performed (Films .1 and .2). She also had an upper abdominal CT scan (Film .3). What are the findings? What is your diagnosis?

- Review Images for PT: 3151

The US (Films .1 and .2) shows a gallstone (arrow) with acoustic shadowing, thickening of the gallbladder wall, and a complex mass anterior to the gallbladder measuring 7.5 x 8.6 cm. The CT scan (Film .3) was done to further evaluate the mass and reveals an abnormal gallbladder with a complex fluid-filled mass (arrow) anterior to the gallbladder extending to the right anterior segment of the liver. There is surrounding inflammatory reaction in the peritoneum, anterior abdominal wall and inferiorly in the greater omentum. Incidentally noted is low density of the liver consistent with fatty infiltration. At surgery the patient was found to have a necrotic gallbladder, cholelithiasis, and focal perforation of the gallbladder with adjacent abscess involving the liver and hepatic flexure.

A CT scan (Films .4 and .5) from a different patient with gangrenous cholecystitis and focal perforation shows a rim of lucency (consistent with edema or pericholecystic fluid) around enhancing gallbladder mucosa which has focal irregularity (arrow). There is also indistinctness of the gallbladder wall. Note the area of decreased density adjacent to the gallbladder neck. No stones are seen. At surgery gangrenous acalculous cholecystitis with focal perforation near the gallbladder neck was found.

- Review Images for PT: 3151

- Review Images for PT: 3151

Dx: Complicated cholecystitis: gangrenous cholecystitis with focal perforation and pericholecystic abscess.

Dx Confirmed by:

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Acute cholecystitis may be complicated by necrosis of the gallbladder wall (gangrenous cholecystitis), empyema, perforation and pericholecystic abscess. The clinical presentation and imaging findings of complicated cholecystitis differ from simple acute cholecystitis, and it is important to recognize the difference on imaging studies. Sonography and CT are useful in distinguishing the two situations. Gangrenous cholecystitis is a fulminant form of acute cholecystitis characterized by mural necrosis and microabscess formation. The term does not always imply infection with a gas-forming organism but does imply severe inflammation which may be associated with gallbladder perforation and/or empyema. When inflammation is the result of ischemia, Clostridia superinfection and even emphysematous cholecystitis may result. On sonography, gangrenous cholecystitis is suggested by the presence of linear echogenic intraluminal membranes representing desquamated mucosa, coarse intraluminal echoes indicative of debris and focal wall irregularities.

Perforation usually develops in the relatively avascular gallbladder fundus and is most commonly associated with acute gangrenous cholecystitis or empyema. Perforation results in a localized, pericholecystic abscess or fistula to an adjacent organ more often than it does to free rupture. Free rupture can occur, however, and is characterized by resolution of an enlarged gallbladder with temporary relief of symptoms followed by signs of peritonitis. Emergent operation is required.

CT is helpful in demonstrating pericholecystic abscess or perforation seen with complicated cholecystitis. Extension of the inflammatory reaction into the liver, adjacent fat and surrounding structures can be detected. A thick, shaggy gallbladder wall, high density bile and air in the gallbladder, or adjacent abscess may also be seen. The main differential diagnosis on CT and US is carcinoma of the gallbladder. The presence of pericholecystic fluid and inflammatory changes in the adjacent fat as well as the clinical history are helpful in making the distinction.