Cholesterolosis of Gallbladder; an Unusual Cause of Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis

Bendjaballah A1*, Taieb M1, Khiali R1, Djouini MI1, Mechri S1, Ammari S1, Nait Slimane N1 and Chibane A2

1Department of General Surgery, Ain Taya Hospital, Algeria
2Department of Internal Medicine, Douira Hospital, Algeria

^*Correspondance to: Bendjaballah A 

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Abstract:

Cholesterolosis of the gallbladder consists in an accumulation of cholesterol esters and triglycerides
in the macrophages at gallbladder wall level and may be either diffuse or polypoid in form. The
natural history of this lesion is, in general, benign and for polyps with size ranging from 6 mm
to 10 mm a yearly follow-up with ultrasonography is advisable. Acute recurrent pancreatitis is
an inflammatory condition of the pancreas manifesting with abdominal pain and elevated serum
levels of lipase. Gallstones and chronic alcohol use are the most commonly described causes. A
less studied cause is cholesterolosis, gallbladder polyps that cause mechanical obstruction of the
sphincter of Oddi. We present the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with acute recurrent
pancreatitis for five times and was found to have cholesterol polyps in her gallbladder with no
evidence of gallstones. The diagnosis was made by endoscopy-ultrasound. The patient underwent
cholecystectomy with complete resolution of her symptoms.

Keywords:

Acute recurrent pancreatitis; Endoscopy ultrasound; Cholesterolosis; Gallbladder polyps

Cite the Article:

Bendjaballah A, Taieb M, Khiali R, Djouini MI, Mechri S, Ammari S, et al. Cholesterolosis of Gallbladder; an Unusual Cause of Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis. World J Surg Surgical Res. 2020; 3: 1210..