Acute acalculous cholecystitis determining Mirizzi syndrome: case report and literature review

Mirizzi Syndrome: Clinical Insights, Diagnostic Challenges, and Surgical Outcomes - A 5-Year Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Background

Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is a rare condition in which the common bile duct or hepatic duct is blocked by impacted gallstones. It can cause symptoms such as cholecystitis, including abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Although diagnosis is challenging, imaging techniques such as ultrasonography and CT scans are helpful. The gold standard for diagnosis is ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography). Surgical management is the primary treatment, with laparotomy preferred over laparoscopic procedures.

Methodology

This prospective study was conducted over a period of five years at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. A total of 72 patients, aged 21-70 years (mean age 44.81 years), with symptomatic cholelithiasis were included. All patients underwent ultrasonography and, in selected cases, MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) and ERCP were performed preoperatively. MS was detected preoperatively in 19.4% of cases and intraoperatively in the remaining cases. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28.

Results

Of the 72 patients, 75% were female. Most patients (69.4%) presented with the right hypochondrium pain, while 16.7% presented with pain and jaundice. Preoperative liver function tests were abnormal in 44.4% of patients. Imaging techniques used included ultrasound (100% of patients), MRCP (22.2%), and ERCP (8.3%). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was completed in 63.8% of patients, with a conversion rate to open surgery of 30.55%. Two patients required open cholecystectomy with hepaticojejunostomy due to gallstone ileus. The MS types identified were type I (50%), type II (25%), type III (19.4%), type IV (2.77%), and type V (2.77%).

Conclusion

MS is a rare and challenging condition to diagnose. Although imaging techniques are helpful, ERCP remains the gold standard. Surgical management, particularly laparoscopic cholecystectomy, is effective but requires careful implementation by experienced surgeons to avoid complications. In complex cases, laparotomy remains a necessary option.

A Rare Case of Pseudo-Mirizzi Syndrome Presenting With Acute-on-Chronic Cholecystitis and Hepatic Abscesses

Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is an uncommon cause of gallstone disease caused by calculous cholecystitis resulting in extrinsic obstruction of the common bile duct, causing concurrent obstructive jaundice. An acalculous variant of MS, at times referred to as pseudo-MS, occurs even more rarely. We present the case of a patient who was found to have pseudo-MS complicated by several hepatic microabscesses. The patient was managed with an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy and eventual cholecystectomy, with histopathology of the gallbladder confirming chronic cholecystitis. To our knowledge, the case presented here is the first in literature that identified pseudo-MS in a patient with pathology-confirmed chronic cholecystitis, and the first to be associated with hepatic abscesses; which usually occur with calculous rather than acalculous biliary disease.

Gallbladder Mysteries: A Diagnostic Dilemma in Mirizzi Syndrome With Acalculous Presentation

Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is an uncommon condition caused by chronic gallbladder stones, leading to external compression and obstruction of the common hepatic duct. This report details an unusual MS case in a 65-year-old man who experienced right upper abdominal pain, jaundice, fever, and nausea. Diagnostic tests, such as ultrasound and CT scan, indicated acute acalculous cholecystitis resembling MS. However, a magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) confirmed no gallstones in the biliary system. The patient's laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successful, with tissue analysis revealing intense gallbladder inflammation and epithelial necrosis but no gallstones. This case emphasizes the diagnostic complexities of atypical MS presentations and the need for comprehensive diagnostic methods, including MRCP. Additionally, the report advocates for standardized terminology in medical literature to ensure clear communication among medical professionals.

Acalculous variant of Mirizzi syndrome: Imaging and clinical characteristics

PURPOSE

Mirizzi Syndrome is a rare disease that causes biliary obstruction in the setting of an impacted stone in the gallbladder neck or Hartmann's Pouch which exerts mass effect on the common duct; however, we have noticed inflammatory biliary narrowing in the absence of an offending gallstone in the setting of acute cholecystitis. The purpose of this study is to report the clinical and MRCP findings in a series of 10 patients with this variant of Mirizzi Syndrome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search of our institution's PACS and electronic medical record identified 10 patients with a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis and narrowing of the common duct on imaging in the absence of an impacted gallstone. Imaging and clinical findings were confirmed by two board-certified abdominal radiologists.

RESULTS

All patients presented with abdominal pain and an average elevated total bilirubin of 3.0 mg/dL. Seven patients had MRCP findings of complete narrowing of the CBD. Nine patients had intrahepatic biliary ductal dilation. All nine patients with gadoliniumenhanced MRCP displayed biliary wall thickening with enhancement adjacent to the gallbladder. Nine patients underwent cholecystectomy, one patient underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy. Average bilirubin upon discharge was within normal limits at 0.9 mg/dL after intervention. Two patients had follow-up MRCP showing resolution of biliary narrowing.

CONCLUSION

A variant of Mirizzi Syndrome occurs in the absence of an offending gallstone in the gallbladder neck or cystic duct to explain the biliary narrowing. We postulate that acute cholecystitis can cause a local inflammatory narrowing resulting in biliary obstruction.

A case of obstructive jaundice without biliary stones in a low resource setting

Although not common, Mirizzi's syndrome (type 1) is a differential diagnosis in a patient with cholecystitis and obstructive jaundice, after a thorough clinical assessment. The jaundice would be resolved by cholecystectomy.

Obstructive jaundice due to acute acalculous cholecystitis: 'Mirizzi-like syndrome'

A 78 year-old female status post subarachnoid haemorrhage developed abdominal pain and obstructive jaundice. CT scan showed acute cholecystitis and dilation of the intrahepatic ducts. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography revealed hepatic duct stenosis due to compression by an enlarged gallbladder. No stones were seen in the common hepatic duct and the cystic duct was patent. An endoscopic retrograde biliary drain was placed to relieve the obstructive jaundice due to acute acalculous cholecystitis. Percutaneous transhepatic drainage was performed to treat the acute acalculous cholecystitis. Hepatic duct stenosis was improved on endoscopic retrograde cholangiography performed 19 days after percutaneous transhepatic drainage. It may be reasonable to treat 'Mirizzi-like syndrome' non-operatively.

Cholécystite aiguë de réanimation

La cholécystite aiguë de réanimation (0,2 à 1 % des patients) est liée à des facteurs de risque spécifiques (jeûne, nutrition parentérale, ventilation mécanique) et systémiques (instabilité, brûlures graves, catécholamines) conduisant à des phénomènes d’ischémie-reperfusion de la paroi vésiculaire, à l’origine d’une cholécystite classiquement alithiasique. Toutefois, les données récentes retrouvent une participation lithiasique dans 50%des cas environ. Il s’agit d’une maladie grave dont le diagnostic est difficile et la mortalité élevée (40 %). Chez ces patients graves, aucun critère clinicobiologique ne permet un diagnostic de certitude. L’imagerie du patient de réanimation peut être prise à défaut par les anomalies fréquemment retrouvées en réanimation ; les signes les plus évocateurs sont un épaississement pariétal vésiculaire supérieur à 4 mm, un hydrocholécyste ou un défaut de rehaussement de la paroi au scanner. Le traitement en urgence repose sur une antibiothérapie à large spectre ciblée sur les germes digestifs et nosocomiaux ainsi que sur une optimisation hémodynamique. La cholécystectomie (laparoscopique, voire sous-costale) représente le traitement de référence en empêchant la récidive. Mais la gravité des patients amène souvent à envisager une solution moins lourde que la chirurgie avec un drainage de la vésicule. Le drainage par voie percutanée est l’alternative de choix en raison de sa disponibilité et de son efficacité, il existe toutefois un risque théorique de récidive à l’ablation du drain, surtout en cas de cholécystite lithiasique. Le drainage interne par voie endoscopique (transpapillaire ou transdigestif) est une possibilité prometteuse, mais réservée à l’heure actuelle aux centres experts.

Correction to: Acute acalculous cholecystitis determining Mirizzi syndrome: case report and literature review

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that one of the authors' names is spelled incorrectly.

Current trends in the management of Mirizzi Syndrome: A review of literature

Mirizzi Syndrome is a rare and challenging clinical entity to manage. However, recent advances in technology have provided surgeons with new options for more effective diagnosis and treatment of this condition. This paper reviews these new diagnostic modalities and treatment approaches for the management of Mirizzi Syndrome.An online search language was performed using PubMed and Web of Science for literature published in English between 2012 and 2017 using the search terms "Mirizzi Syndrome" and "Mirizzi." In total, 16 case series and 11 case reports were identified and analyzed.The most frequently used diagnostic modalities were ultrasound, computed tomography (CT); magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaticography (MRCP); endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP). A combination of ≥2 diagnostic modalities was frequently used to detect Mirizzi Syndrome. Literature shows that the specific type of Mirizzi Syndrome determined the type of treatment chosen. Open surgery was the preferred option, although there are documented cases of the use of minimally-invasive techniques, even in advanced cases. Laparoscopic, endoscopic or robot-assisted surgery, used individually or in combination with lithotripsy, were all associated with a favorable outcome.As yet, there are no internationally-accepted guidelines for the management of Mirizzi Syndrome. Laparotomy is the preferred surgical technique of choice, although an increasing number of surgeons are beginning to opt for minimally-invasive techniques. The number of papers in the existing literature describing diagnostic and treatment procedures is relatively small at present, thus making it difficult to reasonably propose an evidence-based standard of care for Mirizzi Syndrome.

Mirrizi Syndrome and Markedly Elevated Levels of Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 in the Absence of Malignant Disease

Elevated carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) beyond 1000 U/L occurs in nonneoplastic conditions which is causing questioning of the use of CA19-9 as a marker for screening. We report a case where a 51-year-old male with Mirrizi Syndrome (MS) presented with markedly increased CA19-9 level (4,618 U/mL). MS is a rare complication characterized by compression of the common bile or hepatic duct caused by an impacted gallstone in the cystic duct or neck of the gallbladder. Biliary epithelial cells secrete CA19-9: it is hypothesized that increased proliferation of such cells caused by inflammation leads to increased secretion. CA19-9 should not be used as a diagnostic tool, but rather for surveillance.

Mirizzi's syndrome: lessons learnt from 169 patients at a single center

Backgrounds/Aims

Mirizzi's syndrome (MS) poses great diagnostic and management challenge to the treating physician. We presented our experience of MS cases with respect to clinical presentation, diagnostic difficulties, surgical procedures and outcome.

Methods

Prospectively maintained data of all surgically treated MS patients were analyzed.

Results

A total of 169 MS patients were surgically managed between 1989 and 2011. Presenting symptoms were jaundice (84%), pain (75%) and cholangitis (56%). Median symptom duration s was 8 months (range, <1 to 240 months). Preoperative diagnosis was possible only in 32% (54/169) of patients based on imaging study. Csendes Type II was the most common diagnosis (57%). Fistulization to the surrounding organs (bilio-enteric fistulization) were found in 14% of patients (24/169) during surgery. Gall bladder histopathology revealed xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis in 33% of patients (55/169). No significant difference in perioperative morbidity was found between choledochoplasty (use of gallbladder patch) (15/89, 17%) and bilio-enteric anastomosis (4/28, 14%) (p=0.748). Bile leak was more common with choledochoplasty (5/89, 5.6%) than bilio-enteric anastomosis (1/28, 3.5%), without statistical significance (p=0.669).

Conclusions

Preoperative diagnosis of MS was possible in only one-third of patients in our series. Significant number of patients had associated fistulae to the surrounding organs, making the surgical procedure more complicated. Awareness of this entity is important for intraoperative diagnosis and consequently, for optimal surgical strategy and good outcome.