위배출구 폐색에서 발견된 담낭루를 동반한 황색육아종성 담낭염 1예

Gastric Outlet Obstruction arising from Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis accompanied by both Cholecystoduodenal and Cholecystocolonic Fistulas

Article information

Korean J Pancreas Biliary Tract. 2015;20(3):156-161
Publication date (electronic) : 2015 July 31
doi : https://doi.org/10.15279/kpba.2015.20.3.156
1Department of Gastroenterology, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
2Department of Surgery, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
3Department of Pathology, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
조효진1, 박주상,1, 김정희1, 전동욱1, 김기호2, 권계원3
1분당 제생병원 소화기내과
2분당 제생병원 외과
3분당 제생병원 병리과
Corresponding author : Ju-Sang Park Department of Gastroenterology, Bundang Jesaeng Hospital, 20 Seohyeon-ro 180beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 463-774, Korea Tel. +82-31-779-0209 Fax. +82-31-779-0929 E-mail; parkjs@dmc.or.kr
Received 2015 January 16; Revised 2015 May 6; Accepted 2015 May 7.

Abstract

황색육아종성 담낭염은 만성 담낭염의 드문 형태로 파괴적인 병리학적 특성으로 인해 다른 담낭염보다 주위 인접 장기로의 침범과 유착, 누공 형성 등의 합병증의 동반 비율이 높다. 황색육아종성 담낭염에서 합병증으로 십이지장 또는 대장과의 누공 형성 등이 보고되고 있으나 동시에 십이지장과 대장으로의 누공이 형성된 예는 아직 보고가 없는 상태이다. 저자들은 위배출구 폐색을 보인 환자에서 복부전산화 단층촬영과 상부위장관내시경 검사를 통하여 담낭-십이지장 누공, 담낭-대장 누공의 합병증을 동반한 황색육아종성 담낭염을 진단하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

Trans Abstract

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a rare type of chronic inflammation of the gallbladder characterized by focal or diffuse destructive inflammatory responses. Although it is a benign condition, its destructive course may lead to more aggressive outcomes of the gallbladder, such as local infiltration, fistula, stricture, and perforation as compared with other gallbladder inflammations. There are reports about XGC accompanied by cholecystoenteric fistula. However, XGC accompanied by more than one cholecystoenteric fistula is rare. We report a case of a 54-year-old man with gastric outlet obstruction arising from XGC, accompanied by cholecystoduodenal fisula and cholecystocolonic fistula, but without impacted gallstones.

INTRODUCTION

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a rare type of chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, and is characterized by focal or diffuse destructive inflammatory responses [1-3]. It is a benign condition, though its destructive course may lead to more aggressive outcomes of the gallbladder as compared with other gallbladder inflammations; these include local infiltration, fistula, stricture and perforation [1-5].

According to a review of literatures, there are reports about XGC accompanied by cholecystoenteric fistula [6]. To our knowledge, however, there are no reports about a synchronous formation of two cholecystoenteric fistulas in patients with gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) arising from XGC.

We experienced a rare case of a 54-year-old man with GOO, arising from XGC, accompanied by cholecystoduodenal fisula and cholecystocolonic fistula, but without impacted gallstones. Here, we report our case with a review of literatures.

CASE

A 54-year-old man visited the emergency department with a 4-day-history of hiccups and abdominal bloating. The patient had a past 7-year-history of taking aneurismal neck clipping and left frontotemporoparietal craniectomy for spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhages due to aneurysmal rupture of the left internal carotid artery.

On admission, the patient was alert. The patient’s vital signs were as follows: blood pressure 100/65 mmHg, heart rate 90 times/minute, respiratory rate 18 breaths/minute, body temperature 36.9℃, and PO2 99%. The patient had abdominal distension, but showed no other notable findings, such as abdominal tenderness. On complete blood counts, the patient showed a white blood cell count of 15,200/mm3, hemoglobin 12.5 g/dL, and platelet counts of 356,000/mm3. On serum biochemistry, the patient showed 14 IU/L of aspartate aminotransferase, 20 IU/L of alanine aminotransferase, a total bilirubin of 0.5 mg/dL, 223 IU/L of alkaline phosphatase, 48 IU/L of r-glutamyl transpeptidase and 8.57 mg/dL of c-reactive protein. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen was 2.21 ng/mL and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 was 6.69 U/mL. On abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans, the patient had severe gastric distension and diffused gallbladder wall thickening, accompanied by findings that were suggestive of gallstones. The patient also had suspected findings of cholecystoduodenal fistula with duodenal bulb deformity and cholecystocolonic fistula (Fig. 1). On esophagogastroduodenoscopy, the patient had circumferential mucosal break and mucosal friability, extending from the esophagogastric junction to the upper esophagus (Fig. 2A), accompanied by the residual presence of dirty food debris in the stomach. The patient also had endoscopic findings of mucosal edema surrounding the prepyloric antrum and extraluminal narrowing of the duodenual bulb, without the presence of an ulcer (Fig. 2B-D). Nevertheless, the scope barely passed through the bulb. Due to a lack of findings indicative of an ulcer, Helicobacter pylori infection test was not preformed. The patient received conservative treatment regimens using an intravenous injection of fluid, and antibiotics, during fasting. Thus, the patient was tentatively diagnosed with XGC accompanied by cholecystoduodenal fistula and cholecystocolonic fistula. Moreover, the patient was presumed to have GOO, possibly due to a partial obstruction that may be associated with an inflammation arising from XGC. However, it could not be completely ruled out the possibility of gallbladder cancer occurred as a result of the gallbladder wall thickening on CT scans. We consulted a general surgeon, according to whom the patient was suspected of having XGC, rather than malignancy. On day 2, per request from the general surgeon, a percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) was preformed. A tubogram showed duodenal and colonic filling. This was suggestive of cholecystoduodenal fistula in the duodenal bulb and cholecystocolonic fistula in the hepatic flexure of the colon (Fig. 3). After receiving PTGBD and conservative managements, including an intravenous injection of metoclopramide and proton pump inhibitor, the patient’s hiccups and abdominal distension was resolved. On day 16, the patient underwent exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperatively, the patient had edematous gallbladder with diffused wall thickening, accompanied by an adhesion to the adjacent omentum, the first portion of duodenum and the proximal transverse colon. The patient underwent cholecystectomy and primary closure of cholecystoduodenal fistula and cholecystocolonic fistula. On histopathologic examinations, the patient was diagnosed with XGC, accompanied by hemorrhagic necrosis and fistula tract formations (Fig. 4). On day 28, the patient was discharged without complications.

Fig. 1.

(A-C) Enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a deformity of duodenal bulb with suspicious cholecystoduodenal fistula (long arrow) and cholecystocolonic fistula (short arrow) at the hepatic flexure of the colon. (D) Enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a diffuse wall thickening of gallbladder with suspicious gallstones and gastric distension.

Fig. 2.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed (A) grade LA-D erosive esophagitis at the esophagogastric junction, (B, C, D) mucosal edema surrounding prepyloric antrum, and extraluminal narrowing of the duodenal bulb, with no presence of ulcerations.

Fig. 3.

Tubogram through a percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage showed a contrast leakage to the duodenum (long arrow) and the colon (short arrow).

Fig. 4.

Microscopic findings of the specimen. (A) There was hemorrhagic mucosa with ulceration and fibrotic wall (H&E stain, ×10). (B) Numerous foamy histiocytes were admixed with various inflammatory cells (H&E stain, ×400).

DISCUSSION

XGC is an uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis, and it is characterized by focal or diffused destructive inflammatory findings, showing a variability in acute and chronic inflammatory cells, lipid-laden macrophages, and fibrosis during the later stages [2,3]. Clinically, it shows no typical symptoms and signs, when compared with other inflammatory gallbladder diseases except for the frequent occurrence of complications, such as adhesions to adjacent tissues and organs, and the formation of internal fistula between the gallbladder and the adjacent viscera [2-5]. Its clinical presentations are similar to those of acute or chronic cholecystitis; these include symptoms in the right hypochondrial region, radiating pain in the shoulder and back, nausea, vomiting, and/or fever [5]. In this case, the patient presented with hiccups and abdominal bloating. It is important to note that these findings are not indicative of XGC. Most cases of hiccups show a benign, self-limited and time-limited course. Although rare, clinicians should consider the possibility of serious underlying diseases in patients with a persistent hiccup lasting for more than 24 hours [7,8]. Hiccups have been reported to be an atypical symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) [9]. Its prevalence is estimated at 4.5-9.5% in patients with GERD [9]. In this case, the patient had cholecystoduodenal fistula with a deformed bulb, leading to partial obstruction on CT scans. A subsequent esophagogatroduodenoscopy showed a few linear mucosal denudations at the esophagogastric junction extending to the upper esophagus and extraluminal narrowing of the duodenal bulb, without the presence of ulcerations. We assume that the patient presented with GOO, and severe gastric reflux esophagitis, due to a partial obstruction of the duodenal bulb arising from XGC accompanied by cholecystoduodenal fistula.

Cholecystoenteric fistula is a rare complication of biliary lithiasis that is defined as, a spontaneous tract with bile flow between an inflamed gallbladder and one or more adjacent structures [10]. Its incidence has been estimated at 0.9-3.2% in patients with biliary disease [10-12]. The fistula can be cholecystoduodenal (69-70%), cholecystocolonic (14%) and cholecystogastric (6%) [13]. Although patients with XGC are vulnerable to cholecystoenteric fistula, at a reported incidence of 12.1% [5], there are few reports that it is accompanied by synchronous complications, such as cholecystoenteric fistulas. There are also reports about gallbladder-common bile duct fistula accompanied by cholecystocolonic fistula [5]. To our knowledge, there are no reports about a synchronous occurrence of cholecystoduodenal fistula and cholecystocolonic fistula in a patient with XGC. There are numerous articles about cholecystoenteric fistula associated with gallstones. In this case, the patient had no definite evidence of impacted gallstones. However, the patient did have gallstones accompanied by both cholecystoduodenal fistula and cholecystocolonic fistula.

There is a possibility that XGC might progress to coincident carcinoma. Once diagnosed with XGC, patients with XGC should undergo a cholecystectomy, and excision of adjacent xanthogranulomatous tissue and any fistulas [2]. In this case, however, the patient had no malignancy upon histopathological examinations.

We experienced a rare case of GOO arising from XGC, accompanied by cholecystoduodenal fistula and cholecystocolonic fistula. To our knowledge, this has not been described in the literature. Here, we report our case with a review of literatures.

Notes

Conflict of Interest

The author has no conflict to disclose.

References

1. Howard TJ, Bennion RS, Thompson JE Jr. Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: a chronic inflammatory pseudotumor of the gallbladder. Am Surg 1991;57:821–824.
2. Houston JP, Collins MC, Cameron I, Reed MW, Parsons MA, Roberts KM. Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis. Br J Surg 1994;81:1030–1032.
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Article information Continued

Fig. 1.

(A-C) Enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a deformity of duodenal bulb with suspicious cholecystoduodenal fistula (long arrow) and cholecystocolonic fistula (short arrow) at the hepatic flexure of the colon. (D) Enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen showed a diffuse wall thickening of gallbladder with suspicious gallstones and gastric distension.

Fig. 2.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed (A) grade LA-D erosive esophagitis at the esophagogastric junction, (B, C, D) mucosal edema surrounding prepyloric antrum, and extraluminal narrowing of the duodenal bulb, with no presence of ulcerations.

Fig. 3.

Tubogram through a percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage showed a contrast leakage to the duodenum (long arrow) and the colon (short arrow).

Fig. 4.

Microscopic findings of the specimen. (A) There was hemorrhagic mucosa with ulceration and fibrotic wall (H&E stain, ×10). (B) Numerous foamy histiocytes were admixed with various inflammatory cells (H&E stain, ×400).