Gallbladder Volvulus Mimicking an Intra-abdominal Malignancy in an Elderly Patient on Warfarin: A Case Report

Gallbladder volvulus is a rare but potentially fatal condition that may present with symptoms mimicking intra-abdominal malignancy, including constitutional symptoms and mass-like imaging findings. We present the case of an 85-year-old female on chronic anticoagulation with warfarin, who was evaluated for an epigastric mass initially suspected to be lymphoma or colon cancer. CT imaging revealed a large, heterogeneous mass in the epigastric region, while ultrasound demonstrated significant gallbladder distention, wall thickening, and pericholecystic fluid. This report highlights the challenges in obtaining an accurate diagnosis and stresses the urgent need for swift imaging and intervention to distinguish between surgical emergencies and oncologic-related conditions in elderly patients.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-06-11
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.85771
Primary Topic
Pediatric Hepatobiliary Diseases and Treatments
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Gallbladder Volvulus Mimicking an Intra-abdominal Malignancy in an Elderly Patient on Warfarin: A Case Report

John Shaw, Belinda Edokpolo
Cureus
Pediatric Hepatobiliary Diseases and Treatments
article

Gallbladder Volvulus Mimicking an Intra-abdominal Malignancy in an Elderly Patient on Warfarin: A Case Report

John Shaw, Belinda Edokpolo
article en

Abstract

Gallbladder volvulus is a rare but potentially fatal condition that may present with symptoms mimicking intra-abdominal malignancy, including constitutional symptoms and mass-like imaging findings. We present the case of an 85-year-old female on chronic anticoagulation with warfarin, who was evaluated for an epigastric mass initially suspected to be lymphoma or colon cancer. CT imaging revealed a large, heterogeneous mass in the epigastric region, while ultrasound demonstrated significant gallbladder distention, wall thickening, and pericholecystic fluid. This report highlights the challenges in obtaining an accurate diagnosis and stresses the urgent need for swift imaging and intervention to distinguish between surgical emergencies and oncologic-related conditions in elderly patients.

CureusVol. 17(6)
Hutchinson Community College (US), Reno County Museum (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 77%
Pediatric Hepatobiliary Diseases and Treatments
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Gallbladder Volvulus Mimicking an Intra-abdominal Malignancy in an Elderly Patient on Warfarin: A Case Report — John Shaw, Belinda Edokpolo · Cureus (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS