[Embolisms of cholesterol crystals and their digestive manifestations]

We report a case of cholesterol crystal embolization associated with secretory diarrhea, megacolon and acalculous cholecystitis. Cholesterol emboli were found within the submucosal arterioles of the small and large bowel as well as in the gallbladder wall. Cholesterol crystal embolization is an often unrecognized disease, occurring in elderly patients with severe atherosclerosis. Cholesterol emboli may induce misleading gastrointestinal manifestations with both hemorrhagic and ischemic lesions. Though an uncommon symptom in this setting, secretory diarrhea did not seem to be fortuitous and could have been also a consequence of cholesterol crystal embolization.