Chronic cholecystitis differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Chronic cholecystitis Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Cholecystitis from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
Diagnostic Study of Choice
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Electrocardiogram
X Ray
CT
MRI
Ultrasound
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Chronic cholecystitis differential diagnosis On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Chronic cholecystitis differential diagnosis All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Chronic cholecystitis differential diagnosis
CDC on Chronic cholecystitis differential diagnosis
Chronic cholecystitis differential diagnosis in the news
Blogs on Chronic cholecystitis differential diagnosis
Directions to Hospitals Treating Cholecystitis
Risk calculators and risk factors for Chronic cholecystitis differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis by acuity

Acute cholecystitis

• This should be suspected whenever there is acute right upper quadrant or epigastric pain.
  • Other possible causes include:
    • Perforated peptic ulcer
    • Acute peptic ulcer exacerbation
    • Amoebic liver abscess
    • Acute amoebic liver colitis
    • Acute pancreatitis
    • Acute intestinal obstruction
    • Renal colic
    • Acute retrocolic appendicitis

Chronic cholecystitis

• The symptoms of chronic cholecystitis are non-specific, thus chronic cholecystitis may be mistaken for other common disorders:
  • Peptic ulcer
  • Hiatus hernia
  • Colitis
  • Functional bowel syndrome

Differential Diagnosis of Causes of Cholecystitis by Presence of a Stone

Acalculous Cholecystitis

• AIDS with cryptosporidiosis
• AIDS with Cytomegalovirus
• AIDS with microsporidiosis
• Burns
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Idiopathic
• Long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
• Major surgery
• Myocardial infarction
• Other cardiac disease
• Prolonged fasting
• Salmonella
• Sepsis
• Seriously ill patients
• Severe trauma
• Sickle Cell Disease

Calculous Cholecystitis (Cholelithiasis)

• Female gender
• Hormonal therapy in women
• Idiopathic
• Increasing age
• Obesity
• Pregnancy
• Race: Scandinavians > African-Americans
• Rapid weight loss