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CC BY 4.0 · Surg J (N Y) 2017; 03(04): e145-e147
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1606546
Case Report
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA

Porcelain Gallbladder: Often an Overlooked Entity

Sohail Iqbal
1   Department of Cardiac Imaging, North West Heart Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom
,
Sarfraz Ahmad
2   Radiology Department, Royal Blackburn Hospital, ELHT, Blackburn, United Kingdom
,
Usman Saeed
2   Radiology Department, Royal Blackburn Hospital, ELHT, Blackburn, United Kingdom
,
Mohammed Al-dabbagh
3   Radiology Department, Colchester General Hospital, CHUFT, Colchester, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

15 April 2017

31 July 2017

Publication Date:
14 September 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Background Porcelain gallbladder (GB) is a rare but potentially premalignant condition with minimal symptoms. Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments often tend to investigate abdominal pain through plain radiographs, which are occasionally reported by radiologists, thereby leaving behind few uncommon conditions, such as porcelain gallbladder unreported.

Objectives We present three cases of porcelain GB in which initial diagnosis was not considered due to the presence of various other calcifications in the upper abdomen.

Methods In A&E, plain abdominal X-rays were routinely performed in all three patients to investigate nonspecific postprandial abdominal pain. Although GB calcification was easy to diagnose on plain films, it was initially overlooked to be a cause of the symptoms and later was diagnosed on abdominal CT scans, performed for further evaluation.

Results Abdominal X-rays revealed thin curvilinear calcification in the GB wall, partially calcified neck and body, and gall stones. CT scan confirmed porcelain GB in all three patients.

Conclusion Gallbladder mural calcification is a rare cause of nonspecific abdominal pain, which is often overlooked on plain abdominal X-rays causing missed diagnosis. The association of porcelain GB with adenocarcinoma entails special emphasis on timely diagnosis and prompt management.

Keywords

porcelain gallbladder - cancer - diagnosis - mural calcification