Acute acalculous cholecystitis caused by gallbladder metastasis due to the peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer: A case report

• Published in: International journal of surgery case reports Vol. 81; p. 105764
• Main Authors: Sugita, Hiroaki, Sato, Risa, Araki, Takahiro, Okuda, Toshiyuki, Miyanaga, Tamon, Doden, Kenji
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.2021
• ISSN: 2210-2612; 2210-2612
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2021.105764

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCEAcute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) is associated with a high mortality rate. AAC caused by metastasis to the gallbladder is rare. We report a case of AAC caused by gallbladder metastasis due to the peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer. CASE PRESENTATIONAn 84-year-old male visited our hospital because of epigastric pain. Ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed swelling and thickening of the gallbladder wall, but stones were not observed in the gallbladder. We performed emergency surgery with a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Laparoscopy revealed the presence of many nodules around the abdominal cavity including the hepatoduodenal ligament. Inflammation of Calot's triangle was severe, so we performed subtotal cholecystectomy. We also resected one of the peritoneal nodules. Macroscopically, there were no stones in the gallbladder and histopathological examination revealed acute cholecystitis and existence of adenocarcinoma involving the subserosa of the gallbladder wall and the resected peritoneal nodule. After surgery, esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed Borrmann type II lesions at the antrum and gastric biopsy showed adenocarcinoma. He was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination. His postoperative course was good. CLINICAL DISCUSSIONThe cases of AAC caused by gallbladder metastasis have been little reported in the literature. This case is advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination and AAC was thought to be caused by peritoneal dissemination from operative and histopathological findings. We successfully treated this rare case of AAC with laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSIONAlthough metastasis to the gallbladder is rare, it is necessary to be aware of this possibility when treating AAC.