Gallbladder tuberculosis (Case report and review of the literature)

The incidence of abdominal tuberculosis is increasing and the familiarity with its clinical presentation shortens its diagnostic time and improves its management. Gallbladder tuberculosis has unique considerations regarding its pathology, diagnosis and surgical management. The authors report a case of gallbladder tuberculosis in a 40 year-old female who presented with a clinical picture of acute cholecystitis. Abdominal ultrasound showed a dilated gallbladder with a large gall stone located in the neck region. Several lymph nodes were seen in the hilum of the liver compressing the portal vein which were associated with smaller retroperitoneal lymph nodes. The diagnosis of gallbladder tuberculosis was reached only during surgery and was proven by histopathology. The gallbladder was adherent to the surrounding tissues and covered with multiple tuberculous nodules. The patient had a retrograde open cholecystectomy and treated with anti-tuberculous drugs. The literature on this topic is reviewed.