Porcelain gallbladder: The rare end of the spectrum of chronic cholecystitis.
Mohannur Sokanathan MATHIAZHAGAN, Anand JALIHAL, Vui Heng CHONG
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, RIPAS Hospital, Brunei Darussalam.
ABSTRACT
Porcelain gallbladder is an uncommon manifestation of chronic cholecystitis. The wall of the gallbladder becomes hard, calcified and brittle with a bluish–white tinge which resembles a porcelain ceramic. This condition is associated with increased risk of malignancy. We report two cases, both female patients (both 56 years old) who were diagnosed with porcelain gallbladder. One presented with a pyogenic liver abscess and the other was diagnosed to have gallbladder carcinoma on the background of porcelain gallbladder with metastases in liver.
Keywords: Carcinoma, chronic cholecystitis, calcification, gallstones disease
Correspondence author: Vui Heng CHONG, Department of Medicine, RIPAS Hospital, Brunei Darussalam.
E mail: chongvuih@yahoo.co.uk
Brunei Int Med J. 2012; 8 (1): 38-42