Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis infiltrating anterior abdominal wall: a rare case report

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a benign chronic inflammatory disease of the gallbladder often presenting as features of chronic cholecystitis. The disease closely mimics gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) and distinguishing XGC from gallbladder cancer preoperatively is very challenging. Biochemical or radiological investigations cannot differentiate XGC from GBC and they share overlapping symptoms. Reporting here is a 31 year old female patient who presented with features of failed attempt of cholecystectomy due to suspected carcinoma gallbladder at an outside hospital. Even CECT abdomen showed gallbladder mass with hepatic and anterior abdominal wall infiltration. Intraoperatively, there was a mass in the gallbladder with large calculi and extending into the adjacent liver, anterior abdominal wall and part of hepatic flexure of colon. Radical cholecystectomy with en block excision of anterior abdominal wall and part of hepatic flexure of colon was done. Frozen section and final histopathological reports confirmed the diagnosis of XGC.