Acalculous acute cholecystitis in leukemia

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Acalculous acute cholecystitis (AAC) is a recognized complication in critically ill patients.
• Data on AAC incidence and pathogenesis in leukemic patients is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence, potential pathogenetic mechanisms, and clinical outcomes of AAC in patients with leukemia.
• To determine the frequency of AAC in acute and chronic leukemia cases.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for 426 patients diagnosed with acute or chronic leukemia.
• Identification of AAC cases and analysis of clinical data, treatment, and outcomes.
• Histological examination of surgical specimens from patients who underwent cholecystectomy.

Main Results:

• Six cases of AAC were identified among 426 leukemia patients, with an incidence of 1.65% (5/302) in acute leukemias.
• Three patients underwent cholecystectomy, with two achieving complete recovery.
• One patient successfully underwent percutaneous cholecystostomy.
• Histological findings did not reveal specific etiopathogenetic factors for AAC in this cohort.

Conclusions:

• AAC is an uncommon but significant complication in leukemia patients.
• Clinical data suggests that infectious agents and visceral ischemia may play a role in the pathogenesis of AAC in leukemia.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the specific mechanisms and optimize management strategies for AAC in leukemic patients.