Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: a rare gallbladder pathology from a single-center perspective

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to review patients with xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC). METHODS: A total of 79 patients diagnosed with XGC were included in the study. The criteria for XGC in the pathology specimens were the presence of histiocytes, cholesterol deposits, lipids, and focal or widespread wall enlargement. RESULTS: Patients were diagnosed with XGC, of which 52 (65.8%) were male and 27 (34.2%) were female, creating a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. The mean age was 65.8 ± 14.3 years (range, 36–97 years). The most common presenting symptom was abdominal pain (63.3%), and the least common presenting symptom was jaundice (8.9%). Of the total, 25 patients were found to have pathological conditions with the potential to obstruct the bile duct or to slow bile flow. A frozen section examination was performed on 20 patients due to suspicion of a tumor by intraoperative macroscopic examination. However, no malignancy was detected in the cases who underwent a frozen section examination. An increase in wall thickness of the gallbladder was observed in 81.6% (n = 31) of the patients on computed tomography scans and in 81.8% (n = 18) of the patients on magnetic resonance imaging scans in which possible tumor lesions were reported, but no tumor was detected. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to diagnose XGC either preoperatively or intraoperatively, and further imaging methods are needed in the preoperative period other than ultrasonography. However, a definitive diagnosis depends exclusively on pathologic examination.