A Rare Pathology of Difficult Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis

Charanjit Singh Milkhu1, Fazain Jarral2, Daniel Raw2

  • 1Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Insights

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a rare gallbladder condition. Diagnosis is challenging, often mistaken for infection rather than malignancy, and may involve higher perforation risk during surgery.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Surgical Pathology

Background:

  • Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is an uncommon inflammatory gallbladder disease.
  • Preoperative diagnosis of XGC presents significant challenges for clinicians.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the diagnostic features, surgical outcomes, and characteristics of Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis.
  • To evaluate the preoperative imaging findings and intraoperative challenges associated with XGC.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 1079 laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) patients between September 2012 and June 2015.
  • Analysis of 14 identified XGC cases, examining postoperative pathology, preoperative radiology, operative findings, and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) occurred in 1.3% of patients.
  • Preoperative imaging suggested thick gallbladder walls with low attenuation mural nodules in 11 patients.
  • Intraoperative perforation occurred in 36% of cases, highlighting surgical difficulty and potential for complications.

Conclusions:

  • Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is difficult to differentiate from gallbladder infection preoperatively, contrary to common assumptions about malignancy.
  • Surgeons should consider XGC in cases of difficult cholecystectomies, given the potential for intraoperative complications like perforation.

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