Emphysematous Calculous Cholecystitis Diagnosed with Abdominal CT in a Diabetic Female Patient - Case Report

Abstract

Emphysematous cholecystitis is reported to have a low incidence of less than 1% in all cases of acute cholecystitis and yet a high mortality rate of up to 15%. It is most commonly seen in male diabetic patients with advanced age. The diagnosis is established with the presence of gas in the gallbladder lumen and/or within its wall which can be seen on plain abdominal radiography, abdominal ultrasound, and abdominal computerized tomography. The clinical presentation refers to one of acute cholecystitis, but the treatment requires prompt cholecystectomy since the patient's condition can deteriorate due to the possibility of gallbladder perforation. We present a case of a 71-year-old female diabetic patient with calculous emphysematous cholecystitis treated with emergency open cholecystectomy.