Aseptic Abscess of the Gallbladder Mimicking Gallbladder Carcinoma after Surgery for Ulcerative Colitis: A Case Report

Intern Med. 2024 Dec 5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.4411-24. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Gallbladder abscess is extremely rare. Aseptic abscesses are sometimes observed in patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) with no history of colectomy; however, it is rare for an aseptic abscess in the gallbladder to develop after surgery for UC. We treated a 56-year-old man with UC and severe pouchitis who had undergone subtotal colorectal resection. A gallbladder lesion was noted during treatment for pouchitis, which increased in size. Therefore, the patient underwent cholecystectomy for suspected gallbladder cancer. A pathological examination revealed an aseptic abscess. This clinical report describes a rare case of an aseptic abscess in the gallbladder after surgery for UC.

Keywords: aseptic abscess; gallbladder; pouchitis; ulcerative colitis.