A Rare Case of Acute Calculous Cholecystitis With Gallbladder Hydrops

Gallbladder hydrops or mucocele is usually due to the obstruction of the gallbladder by a gallstone. It is usually characterized by an increase in gallbladder volume, which remains clinically silent and is often incidentally diagnosed during exploratory laparotomy or laparoscopy. We report a rare case of acute calculous cholecystitis with gallbladder hydrops (measuring 17 cm in maximum dimension) due to the obstruction of the cystic duct by a gallstone in a 67-year-old female. We highlight the importance of early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with right upper quadrant (RUQ) pain to rule out gallbladder hydrops especially in those with a history of gallstones.

Automated summary

Gallbladder hydrops, often caused by gallstone obstruction, is characterized by an enlarged gallbladder volume without significant symptoms. We report a rare case of acute calculous cholecystitis with gallbladder hydrops and highlight the importance of early MRI evaluation.