Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: a radiological study of 12 cases and a review of the literature

Distinguishing characteristics of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and gallbladder adenocarcinoma: a persistent diagnostic dilemma

BACKGROUND

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is an uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis which can resemble gallbladder adenocarcinoma (GAC) on preoperative imaging and present technical challenges in the performance of cholecystectomy. We examined our experience with each pathology to identify distinguishing characteristics that may guide patient counseling and surgical management.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all pathologically confirmed cases of XGC and GAC following cholecystectomy between 2015 and 2021 at a single institution was performed. Clinical, biochemical, radiographic, and intraoperative features were compared.

RESULTS

There were 37 cases of XGC and 20 cases of GAC. Patients with GAC were older (mean 70.3 years vs 58.0, p = 0.01) and exclusively female (100% vs 45.9%, p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in accompanying symptoms between groups (nausea/vomiting, fevers, or jaundice). The mean maximum white blood cell count was elevated for XGC compared to GAC (16.4 vs 8.6 respectively, p = 0.044); however, there were no differences in the remainder of the biochemical profile, including bilirubin, liver transaminases, CEA, and CA 19-9. The presence of an intraluminal mass (61.1% vs 9.1%, p = 0.0001) and lymphadenopathy (18.8%. vs 0.0%, p = 0.045) were associated with malignancy, whereas gallbladder wall thickening as reported on imaging (87.9% vs 38.9%, p = 0.0008) and gallstones (76.5% vs. 50.0%, p = 0.053) were more often present with XGC. Cases of XGC more often had significant adhesions/inflammation (83.8% vs 55.0%, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

Clinical features that may favor benign chronic cholecystitis over gallbladder adenocarcinoma include younger age, male gender, current or prior leukocytosis, and the absence of an intraluminal mass or lymphadenopathy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe surgical option for equivocal presentations. Intraoperative frozen section or intentional staging of more extensive procedures based upon final histopathology are valuable surgical strategies.

Grayscale ultrasonography findings for characterization of gallbladder wall thickening in non-acute setting: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The accurate characterization of gallbladder wall thickening (GWT) into benign or malignant on ultrasound (US) is a significant challenge.

METHODS

We searched the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases for studies reporting two-dimensional grayscale US in benign and malignant GWT. The pooled prevalence was calculated using a generalized linear mixed method with a random-effects model. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated using a bivariate random-effects model.

RESULTS

Of the 7309 studies screened by titles, 73 studies with 18,008 patients were included. The most common findings in xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) were lack of wall disruption and intramural hypoechoic nodules while adenomyomatosis (ADM) was frequently associated with intramural cysts and intramural echogenic foci. Echogenic foci, lack of gallbladder wall disruption, and hypoechoic nodules had a sensitivity of 89%, 77%, and 66% and specificity of 86%, 51%, and 80%, respectively for the diagnosis of benign GWT. Focal thickening and indistinct liver interface had a sensitivity of 75% and 55% and specificity of 64% and 69%, respectively for the diagnosis of malignant GWT.

CONCLUSION

intramural features (echogenic foci, hypoechoic nodules), gallbladder wall disruption, and liver interface are useful US features for the characterization of GWT.

Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis: A Rare Variant of Chronic Cholecystitis

Gallbladder disease is a very common condition that encompasses a heterogeneous group of diseases with a wide range of severity and clinical manifestations. Gallbladder disorders include biliary colic, acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, choledocholithiasis, Mirizzi syndrome, and gallstone ileus. We report the case of a 70-year-old man who presented to the emergency department complaining of worsening abdominal pain, located in the right upper quadrant and radiating to the right shoulder. It was aggravated by food intake and relieved with the use of antacid medications. The medical history of the patient was significant for stable angina, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and sickle cell trait. Examination of the abdomen revealed generalized tenderness with guarding. Abdominal computed tomography scan demonstrated the presence of significant diffuse thickening of the gallbladder wall with poor contrast enhancement. Complete resection of the gallbladder was performed because of suspected gallbladder carcinoma. Histopathological examination revealed xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, which is a rare form of chronic cholecystitis. The differentiation between gallbladder carcinoma and xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis may not be easy and histopathological examination is the most accurate way to make the diagnosis.

Current update on gallbladder carcinoma

Gallbladder (GB) carcinoma is a relatively rare malignancy and is associated with poor prognosis. Numerous risk factors have been associated with the development of GB carcinoma. GB carcinomas may present as mass lesions replacing the GB, focal or diffuse thickening of the GB wall, and intraluminal mass in the GB. Various benign conditions can mimic GB carcinoma. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathology, clinical findings, imaging features, and management of GB carcinomas.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: a rare gallbladder pathology from a single-center perspective

Purpose

The aim of this study was to review patients with xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC).

Methods

A total of 79 patients diagnosed with XGC were included in the study. The criteria for XGC in the pathology specimens were the presence of histiocytes, cholesterol deposits, lipids, and focal or widespread wall enlargement.

Results

Patients were diagnosed with XGC, of which 52 (65.8%) were male and 27 (34.2%) were female, creating a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. The mean age was 65.8 ± 14.3 years (range, 36–97 years). The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain (63.3%), and the least common presenting symptom was jaundice (8.9%). Of the total, 25 patients were found to have pathological conditions with the potential to obstruct the bile duct or to slow bile flow. A frozen section examination was performed on 20 patients due to suspicion of a tumor by intraoperative macroscopic examination. However, no malignancy was detected in the cases who underwent a frozen section examination. An increase in wall thickness of the gallbladder was observed in 81.6% (n = 31) of the patients on computed tomography scans and in 81.8% (n = 18) of the patients on magnetic resonance imaging scans in which possible tumor lesions were reported, but no tumor was detected.

Conclusion

It is difficult to diagnose XGC either preoperatively or intraoperatively, and further imaging methods are needed in the preoperative period other than ultrasonography. However, a definitive diagnosis depends exclusively on pathologic examination.

B-mode ultrasonographic diagnosis in gallbladder wall thickening

Diseases associated with gallbladder wall thickening include benign entities such as adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder, acute and chronic cholecystitis, and hyperplasia associated with pancreaticobiliary maljunction, and also cancer. Unique conditions such as sclerosing cholecystitis and cholecystitis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment can also manifest as wall thickening, as in some systemic inflammatory conditions. Gallbladder cancer, the most serious disease that can show wall thickening, can be difficult to diagnose early and to distinguish from benign causes of wall thickening, contributing to a poor prognosis. Differentiating between xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and gallbladder cancer with wall thickening can be particularly problematic. Cancers that thicken the wall while coexisting with benign lesions that cause wall thickening represent another potential pitfall. In contrast, some benign gallbladder lesions that can cause wall thickening, such as adenomyomatosis and acute cholecystitis, typically show characteristic ultrasonographic features that, together with clinical findings, permit easier diagnosis. In this review of the literature, we describe B-mode abdominal ultrasonographic diagnosis of gallbladder lesions showing wall thickening.

Xanthogranulomatous pancreatitis: A review of the imaging characteristics of this rare and often misdiagnosed lesion of the pancreas

Xanthogranulomatous pancreatitis (XGP) is an extremely rare cause of a cystic pancreatic mass. The pathophysiology of this process is not entirely clear but likely results from a combination of duct obstruction, infection, and repeated hemorrhage. It is difficult to differentiate this inflammatory lesion from a cystic neoplasm and, therefore, in the majority of cases XGP is misdiagnosed as a neoplasm on preoperative imaging. In this report, we describe a case of XGP, the imaging characteristics of XGP, and a differential diagnosis for a cystic pancreatic lesion.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: diagnostic performance of US, CT, and MRI for differentiation from gallbladder carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of HRUS, CT, and MRI for differentiating xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) from gallbladder (GB) cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with surgically proven XGC (n = 40) and GB cancer (n = 44), who had undergone at least one HRUS (n = 43), CT (n = 82), or MRI (n = 34) examination between 2000 and 2012, were included. Two radiologists retrospectively graded the likelihood of XGC or GB cancer using a 5-point confidence scale; they also assessed the imaging features. Statistical analyses were performed using ROC, ANOVA, and Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Diagnostic performance of MRI was better than HRUS for differentiating XGC from GB cancer (AUCs = 0.867 and 0.911 vs. AUCs = 0.818 and 0.86). However, HRUS showed a better performance than CT (AUCs = 0.818 and 0.86 vs. AUCs = 0.806 and 0.84) with moderate to excellent agreement (κ = 0.48-0.83). Statistically common findings for XGC included non-focal thickening, smooth GB wall, presence of intramural nodules, type I enhancement of wall, transient hepatic attenuation difference, and continuity of mucosa (p < 0.05). Co-existence of gallstones (OR = 16.5), non-focal thickening (OR = 14.7), and collapsed lumen (OR = 13.0) on HRUS, and type I enhancement on CT (OR = 3.52) were independently associated with XGC (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Although MRI showed a better performance than both HRUS and CT, HRUS showed a better performance than CT. The co-existence of gallstones, non-focal thickening, and collapsed lumen on HRUS was independently associated with XGC.

A rare finding during a common procedure: xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is a rare variant of chronic cholecystitis characterized by severe proliferative fibrosis and accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages in regions of destructive inflammation. Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis clinically and radiologically mimics early-stage gallbladder cancer, with wall thickening on computed tomography. The study included 14 xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis patients that were identified following retrospective analysis of the records of 1248 patients that underwent cholecystectomy between 2005 and 2011. Mean age of the 5 male and 9 female patients was 56.7 years. All 14 patients had gallbladder stones; 10 had a history of acute cholecystitis, 1 had cholangitis, and 2 presented with obstructive jaundice. A right-upper quadrant mass was palpable in 2 patients. All patients underwent cholecystectomy. Open surgery was planned and performed in 6 of the 14 patients, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was planned in 8 patients, but was converted to open surgery in 1 case. In total, 1 patient developed wound infection, 1 patient had postoperative pneumonia, and 1 patient developed intraabdominal hematoma. None of the patients in the series died. Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is difficult to diagnose, both preoperatively and intraoperatively, and definitive diagnosis depends exclusively on pathological examination. Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis should be a consideration in all difficult cholecystectomy cases.

Expression of GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 in xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis induced a positive result on ¹⁸F-FDG PET: report of a case

Although several reports have revealed that fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) is useful for differentiating between benign and malignant lesions in the gallbladder, the positive results of (18)F-FDG PET are not specific for malignancy because (18)F-FDG is also accumulated in inflammatory lesions. It is known that the most important pathway for (18)F-FDG to enter the cell body is mediated by the facilitative glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) through GLUT-3. We herein present a case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) with a positive result on (18)F-FDG PET. In this case, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 were both positively expressed in inflammatory cells at the gallbladder wall of XGC and this is the first report to reveal GLUT expression in XGC. This report reveals that surgeons should carefully consider the appropriate treatment of gallbladder tumor, even with a positive result on (18)F-FDG PET.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: a European and global perspective

INTRODUCTION

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is often mistaken for, and may predispose to, gallbladder carcinoma (GB Ca). This study reviews the worldwide variation of the incidence, investigations, management and outcome of patients with XGC.

METHODS

Data from 29 studies, cumulatively containing 1599 patients, were reviewed and results summarized by geographical region (Europe, India, Far East and Americas) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to present variability within regions. The main study outcomes were incidence, association with GB Ca and treatment of patients with XGC.

RESULTS

Overall, the incidence of XGC was 1.3-1.9%, with the exception of India where it was 8.8%. The incidence of GB Ca associated with XGC was lowest in European studies (3.3%) varying from 5.1-5.9% in the remaining regions. Confusion with or undiagnosed GB Ca led to 10.2% of patients receiving over or under treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

XGC is a global disease and is associated with GB Ca. Characteristic pathological, radiological and clinical features are shared with GB Ca and contribute to considerable treatment inaccuracy. Tissue sampling by pre-operative endoscopic ultrasound or intra-operative frozen section is required to accurately diagnose gallbladder pathology and should be performed before any extensive resection is performed.

A case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis suspected to be adenocarcinoma based on the intraoperative peritoneal washing cytology

INTRODUCTION

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a variant of chronic cholecystitis. XGC remains difficult to distinguish from gallbladder cancer radiologically and macroscopically.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

A 63-year-old female was referred to our hospital because of a gallbladder tumor. Abdominal CT and MRI revealed a thickened gallbladder that had an obscure border with the transverse colon. FDG-PET showed a high uptake of FDG in the gallbladder. Therefore, under the preoperative diagnosis of an advanced gallbladder cancer with invasion to the transverse colon, a laparotomy was performed. Because adenocarcinoma was suspected based on the intraoperative peritoneal washing cytology (IPWC), cholecystectomy and partial transverse colectomy were performed instead of radial surgery. However, the case was proven to be XGC with no malignant cells after the operation.

DISCUSSION

In patients with gallbladder cancer who underwent surgery in our institute from 2000 to 2009, the prognosis after the operation of patients with only positive IPWC tended to be better than that of patients with definitive peritoneal disseminated nodules. It is true that in some cases, it is difficult to differentiate XGC from gallbladder carcinoma pre- and intra-operatively.

CONCLUSION

Surgical procedures should be selected based on the facts that there are long-term survivors with gallbladder cancer diagnosed with positive IPWC, and that some patients with XGC are initially diagnosed to have carcinoma by IPWC, as was seen in our case.

CT and MR features of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: an analysis of consecutive 49 cases

OBJECTIVE

To study the CT and MR features of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

49 patients had pathologically confirmed XGC. All patients underwent contrast enhanced CT, and 10 patients had additional plain MRI. The CT and MRI results were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

On CT, all patients had thickening of gallbladder wall, with 87.8% cases showed diffuse thickening. 85.7% cases had intramural hypo-attenuated nodules in the thickened wall. Continuous mucosal line and luminal surface enhancement were noted in 79.6% and 85.7% cases, respectively. Gallbladder stones were seen in 69.4% patients. The coexistence of the above 5 CT features was seen in 40% cases, and 80% cases had the coexistence of ≥ 4 features. Diffused gallbladder wall thickening in XGC is more likely to have disrupted mucosal line, and XGC with disrupted mucosal line is more likely to be associated with liver infiltration. In 60% patients the inflammatory process extended beyond gallbladder, with the interface between gallbladder and liver and/or the surrounding fat blurred. 40% cases had an early enhancement of liver parenchyma. Infiltration to other surrounding tissues included bowel (n=3), stomach (n=2), and abdominal wall (n=1). On MR images, 7 of 9 intramural nodules in 7 subjects with T1-weighted dual echo MR images showed higher signal intensity on in-phase images than out-of-phase images.

CONCLUSION

Coexisting of diffuse gallbladder wall thickening, hypo-attenuated intramural nodules, continuous mucosal line, luminal surface enhancement, and gallbladder stone highly suggest XGC. XGC frequently infiltrate liver and surrounding fat. Chemical-shift MRI helps classifying intramural nodules in the gallbladder wall.

Heterogenous wall thickening of gall blabber: xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis or carcinoma, with type 3 choledochal cyst

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is an unusual inflammatory disease of the gallbladder characterised by severe proliferative fibrosis and the accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages in areas of destructive inflammation. Its macroscopic appearance may occasionally be confused with gallbladder carcinoma. The authors present a case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis with type 3 choledochal cyst in a 20-year-old man who was referred to our hospital with a 1-week history of abdominal pain and fever. He underwent endoscopic sphincterotomy and then open cholecystectomy. A histological diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis was made.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: sonographic and CT features and differentiation from gallbladder carcinoma: a pictorial essay

The imaging features of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis closely resemble those of gallbladder carcinoma, especially those of the wall-thickening variety. There is an overlap between these two conditions with respect to the clinical features and certain imaging findings. However, certain finer details like the presence of intramural hypoattenuating nodules and the type of mucosal enhancement may help to differentiate these two conditions. In this article, we have highlighted some of these imaging features. The importance of making an accurate diagnosis lies in the significant difference between the prognosis and the surgical management of the two disease entities.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: the use of preoperative CT findings to differentiate it from gallbladder carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND AIM

A retrospective analysis was performed on 32 patients with histologically confirmed xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) and 21 patients with gallbladder carcinoma who underwent surgical treatment between 1998 and 2007.

METHODS

All patients underwent preoperative CT scanning. The CT features analyzed were: the presence of intramural hypoattenuated nodules or bands, mucosal line, the patterns of wall thickening and enhancement, and the presence of stones in the gallbladder. The variables of the CT findings with XGC were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Intramural hypoattenuated nodules were observed in 21 patients (65%) with XGC, but in only six patients (29%) with gallbladder carcinoma (P < 0.01). The mucosal line was observed in 27 patients (84%) with XGC and in only four patients (19%) with gallbladder carcinoma (P < 0.0001). Gallstones were noted in 24 patients (75%) with XGC and five patients (24%) with gallbladder carcinoma (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the pattern of gallbladder wall thickening (diffuse or focal) and the presence of changes outside the gallbladder. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed from the CT features that the enhanced continuous mucosal line (P = 0.0013) and the presence of gallstones (P = 0.0072) were independently correlated with XGC.

CONCLUSION

CT features of the enhanced continuous mucosal line in a thickened gallbladder wall, together with gallstones in a patient with chronic gallbladder disease, are highly suggestive of XGC. Accurate diagnosis of XGC may therefore indicate the need to select a less aggressive surgical approach.

Perfidious gallbladders - a diagnostic dilemma with xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis

INTRODUCTION

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is an uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis characterised by marked thickening of the gallbladder wall and dense local adhesions. Pre-operative and intra-operative diagnosis is difficult and it often mimics a gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is frequently unsuccessful with a high conversion rate. A series of patients with this condition led us to review our experience with XGC and to try to develop a care pathway for its management.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of the medical records of 1296 consecutive patients who had undergone cholecystectomy between January 2000 and April 2005 at our hospital was performed. Twenty-nine cases of XGC were identified among these cholecystectomies. The clinical, radiological and operative details of these patients have been analysed.

RESULTS

The incidence of XGC was 2.2% in our study. The mean age at presentation was 60.3 years with a female:male ratio of 1.4:1. Twenty-three patients (79%) required an emergency surgical admission at first presentation. In three patients, a GBC was suspected both radiologically and at operation (10.3%), but was later disproved on histology. Seventeen patients (59%) had obstructive jaundice at first presentation and required an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) before LC. Of these, five had common bile duct stones. Abdominal ultrasound scan showed marked thickening of the gallbladder wall in 16 cases (55%). LC was attempted in 24 patients, but required conversion to an open procedure in 11 patients (46% conversion rate). A total cholecystectomy was possible in 18 patients and a partial cholecystectomy was the choice in 11 (38%). The average operative time was 96 min. Three patients developed a postoperative bile leak, one of whom required ERCP and placement of a biliary stent. The average length of stay in the hospital was 6.3 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Severe xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis often mimics a gallbladder carcinoma. Currently, a correct pre-operative diagnosis is rarely made. With increased awareness and a high index of suspicion, radiological diagnosis is possible. Preoperative counselling of these patients should include possible intra-operative difficulties and the differential diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is frequently unsuccessful and a partial cholecystectomy is often the procedure of choice.

Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis: A Surgical Challenge

In this article(1), the authors reviewed an interesting topic of which all Radiologists and Surgeons need to be aware. The pathology of the condition was well reviewed as well as the clinical presentation and the management in the four cases presented.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis in laparoscopic surgery

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is one presentation of cholecystitis and can be a cause of difficulty in cholecystectomy. We reviewed the clinical files of 12,426 patients who had undergone cholecystectomy. In this group, there were 182 cases of XGC, and 41 of these patients had undergone laparoscopic surgery. Patients with XGC represented 1.46% of the cholecystectomies that were performed. Of the 41 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery, 27 were men (66%) and 14 were women (34%) (average age, 52 years). A total of 36 patients (88%) presented with a chronic condition. XGC was found to be associated with lithiasis in 85%, with jaundice in 22%, and with cancer in 2.4% (one patient). A total of 33 patients (80%) required conversion to open surgery, because of technical difficulties; of these patients, 64% underwent partial cholecystectomy. We conclude that XGC creates difficulty at laparoscopy and therefore any preoperative suspicion of XGC should cause the clinician to consider open cholecystectomy.

[The application of digestive endoscopic ultrasonography in the gallbladder pathology]

A WELL DEFINED PATHOLOGY: Bilary lithiasis and vesicular parietal abnormalities constitute the totality of the gallbladder pathology. The surgical experience and widely current use of digestive imaging, notably ultrasonography, have contributed to enlightening our knowledge of this pathology. POTENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEMS: There is no particular problem in the diagnosis of gallbladder lithiasis and its treatment is currently codified. However the discovery of thickened gallbladder wall or polyps increases the fear of gallbladder cancer. A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE FOR ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY: Within the framework of screening for cancer, endoscopic ultrasonography, the performance of which in gallbladder pathology has rarely been studied, appears promising. Other than its role in the control of the extension of gallbladder cancers, it provides reliable characterisation of most of the polyps. Hence its place today is unavoidable in the therapeutic decision trees of such affections.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: Sonographic, surgical and pathologic correlation

AIM: To determine the sonographic features of xantho-granulomatous cholecystitis (XGC), which could improve imaging diagnosis.

METHODS: The sonographic features of 32 patients with surgically resected XGC were retrospectively evaluated on the basis of the surgical and pathological findings. The patients were 15 women and 17 men, aged from 21 to 88 (mean 55.3) years.

RESULTS: The gallbladder wall was thickened in all patients. Among the 32 cases, 15 (46.9%) were between 4 mm to 6 mm; 14 (43.8%) were between 7 mm to 10 mm; 3 (9.3%) were between 11 mm to 22 mm. On the membranous surface of the gallbladder wall, 20 (62.5%) were smooth, while 12 (37.5%) were uneven. Other manifestations included intramural hypoechoic nodule in 5 (15.6%), intramural cholelithiasis in 1 (3.1%), and cholelithiasis 30 (93.8%), respectively. Two patients (6.3%) had liver hypoechoic or iso-echoic mass resulted from the infiltration of XGC.

CONCLUSION: Sonographic manifestations present thickened gallbladder wall, with intramural hypoechoic nodules and/or cholelithiasis. Sonographic examination can reveal the surgical and pathological findings of the XGC.

Radiology-Pathology Conference: Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis

We report the radiology and pathology of a patient with xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XC) and review the literature on this unusual condition.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: 15 years' experience

The demographic and clinical aspects of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) over a period of 15 years are reviewed. The review entailed examining 12,426 clinical files of patients who had undergone cholecystectomy, including 182 patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of XGC. Altogether, 1.46% of the cholecystectomies performed were done on patients with a diagnosis of XGC. XGC presented in patients over the age of 32, with a male/female ratio of 2:1. Thickening of the gallbladder wall, seen on ultrasonography and computed tomography scans, was demonstrated in 100% of the cases. A total of 17% of the cases presented in acute form. Obstructive jaundice was observed in 23% of the patients, 11 of which cases were associated with choledocholithiasis (30% of these patients had jaundice) and the rest with extrinsic obstruction of the bile tract (Mirizzi syndrome). XGC was associated with lithiasis in 85% of the cases. A malignant lesion was suspected during operation in 30% of the cases, requiring histopathologic examination during surgery. Carcinomatous lesions were found in 3% of the cases. Surgical difficulty was reported in 65% of the cases, resulting in the performance of partial cholecystectomy in 35%. XGC is an infrequent form of chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, the clinical presentation of which is similar to that of cholecystitis; given the thickening of the gallbladder wall, it makes cholecystectomy difficult. As XGC may resemble adenocarcinoma, differentiation is essential by means of intraoperative histologic examination to ensure optimal surgical treatment.

Imaging benign and malignant disease of the gallbladder

This article reviews the imaging of various benign and malignant diseases of the gallbladder. Clinical findings and imaging features using ultrasound, CT, and MR for the detection and evaluation of gallstones, acute cholecystitis, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, adenomyomatosis, and carcinoma of the gallbladder among other disorders are discussed.

Gallbladder carcinoma: radiologic-pathologic correlation

Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder is an uncommon, aggressive malignancy that affects women more frequently than men. Older age groups are most often affected, and coexisting gallstones are present in the vast majority of cases. The symptoms at presentation are vague and are most often related to adjacent organ invasion. Therefore, despite advances in cross-sectional imaging, early-stage tumors are not often encountered. Imaging studies may reveal a mass replacing the normal gallbladder, diffuse or focal thickening of the gallbladder wall, or a polypoid mass within the gallbladder lumen. Adjacent organ invasion, most commonly involving the liver, is typically present at diagnosis, as is biliary obstruction. Periportal and peripancreatic lymphadenopathy, hematogenous metastases, and peritoneal metastases may also be seen. The vast majority of gallbladder carcinomas are adenocarcinomas. Because most patients present with advanced disease, the prognosis is poor, with a reported 5-year survival rate of less than 5% in most large series. The radiologic differential diagnosis includes the more frequently encountered inflammatory conditions of the gallbladder, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, adenomyomatosis, other hepatobiliary malignancies, and metastatic disease.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: clinical, sonographic, and CT findings in 26 patients

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the sonographic and CT features of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, correlating the pathologic and surgical findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis was pathologically diagnosed in 26 patients from January 1996 to August 1998. The patients were 15 women and 11 men with a mean age of 63 years. All patients had preoperative sonography and nine also underwent CT In five patients, sonography was performed on the surgical specimen. Clinical indications for imaging included cholecystitis (14 patients), biliary colic (six patients), stone-induced pancreatitis (three patients), tumor (two patients), and gallstone ileus (one patient).

RESULTS

The most characteristic sonographic finding, confirmed by sonographic study of the surgical specimens, was the presence of hypoechoic nodules or bands in the gallbladder wall, which were seen in 35% of the patients. Cholelithiasis and a thickened gallbladder wall were frequent findings. The most characteristic (specific) CT finding was a hypodense band in the gallbladder wall, seen in 33% of the patients. Two of twelve patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy required conversion to open surgery.

CONCLUSION

Although the preoperative imaging diagnosis of xanthoganulomatous cholecystitis is difficult, the presence of hypoechoic nodules or bands in the gallbladder wall on sonography or of a hypodense band around the gallbladder on CT, is highly suggestive of this disease.

US findings of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis

The ultrasound (US) scans of eleven patients with histologically proven xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis have been reviewed. The thickness of the gallbladder (GB) wall, echogenicity of the thickened GB wall, the presence of intramural nodules, gallstones, pericholecystic fluid, loss of wall definition with the liver, and intrahepatic ductal dilatation were specifically assessed by two radiologists. The range of thickness of the GB wall was 3-20mm (mean, 11.2 mm). Thickening was diffuse in nine cases and focal in two. The thickened GB wall, excluding intramural nodules, was echogenic in seven, isoechoic in three and hypoechoic in one, compared with hepatic echogenicity. Intramural nodules were found in eight cases. These were discrete, oval or flat, and of low echogenicity. These ranged in size from 6 to 12 mm (mean, 10.5 mm). Gallstones were present in six cases and there was intrahepatic duct dilatation in two of these. Definition between the liver and the GB was obliterated in seven cases. One case of GB perforation, confirmed at operation, demonstrated pre-operatively a GB wall defect and connection with the surrounding pericholecystic fluid. Pericholecystic fluid was absent in the other 10 cases. Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis presents ultrasonically as GB wall thickening, and the majority of cases in this series also demonstrated intramural hypoechoic nodules. These findings can be helpful in the diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis.