Images in Clinical Medicine

Emphysematous Cholecystitis

Yasuyoshi Sakai, M.D., Ph.D.

N Engl J Med 2003; 348:2329June 5, 2003

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Article

An 83-year-old man was being treated for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease. Cholelithiasis had previously been detected by abdominal ultrasonography. After drinking alcohol at home, the patient had acute abdominal pain. Plain-film radiography of the abdomen (Panel A) showed air (arrow) in the upper right quadrant, and computed tomography (Panel B) showed an air–fluid level (arrow) in the lumen of the gallbladder and gas (arrowhead) within the gallbladder wall. After antibiotic therapy, cholecystectomy and drainage were performed. Clostridium perfringens was isolated from the culture of drained biliary fluid. The patient recovered uneventfully.

Yasuyoshi Sakai, M.D., Ph.D.
Inatsuki Hospital, Fukuoka 820-0207, Japan

Citing Articles (3)

Citing Articles

1. 1

   Philippe Gottignies, Didier Hossey, Luc Lasser, Soraya Cherifi, Jacques Devriendt, David De Bels. (2010) Upper gastrointestinal bleeding related to emphysematous cholecystitis due to Clostridium perfringens. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 14:3, e257-e258
   CrossRef

2. 2

   J. Finsterer, B. Hess. (2007) Neuromuscular and Central Nervous System Manifestations of Clostridium perfringens Infections. Infection 35:6, 396-405
   CrossRef

3. 3

   R. San Juan Garrido, C. Díaz Pedroche, F. López Medrano. (2006) Infecciones por anaerobios. Medicine - Programa de Formación Médica Continuada Acreditado 9:51, 3319-3328
   CrossRef