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

Overview

Cholecystitis must be differentiated from other conditions that affect the gallbladder and biliary tract such as biliary colic, choledocholithiasis, and cholangitis. Chronic cholecystitis must be differentiated from colitis, functional bowel syndrome, hiatal hernia, and peptic ulcer.

Differentiating Cholecystitis from other Diseases

Chronic Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis must be differentiated from other conditions that affect the gallbladder and biliary tract such as biliary colic, choledocholithiasis, and cholangitis. Chronic cholecystitis must be differentiated from colitis, functional bowel syndrome, hiatal hernia, and peptic ulcer.

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

• Cholecystitis must be differentiated from other diseases that cause right upper quadrant pain and nausea/vomiting such as:
  • Biliary colic
  • Cholangitis
  • Viral hepatitis
  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Pancreatitis
  • Irritable bowel syndrome

• Biliary colic
  • Caused by obstruction of the cystic duct
  • Sharp and constant epigastric pain without fever
  • Murphy's sign is negative
  • Liver function tests are normal

• Choledocholithiasis
  • Blockage of the common bile duct
  • Associated with 'colicky' pain
  • Obstructive jaundice
  • Liver function tests - increase in serum bilirubin, high conjugated bilirubin, raised GGT and ALP

• Cholangitis
  • An infection of entire biliary tract.
  • It may involve pathogens of distal bowels and is also known as 'ascending cholangitis.
  • The classical sign of cholangitis is Charcot's triad - which is right upper quadrant pain, fever and jaundice.
  • Liver function tests - increase if enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, GGT) with raised bilirubin.
  • Bile is an extremely favorable growth medium for bacteria and infections develop rapidly and become quite severe.

Abbreviations: RUQ= Right upper quadrant of the abdomen, LUQ= Left upper quadrant, LLQ= Left lower quadrant, RLQ= Right lower quadrant, LFT= Liver function test, SIRS= Systemic inflammatory response syndrome, ERCP= Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, IV= Intravenous, N= Normal, AMA= Anti mitochondrial antibodies, LDH= Lactate dehydrogenase, GI= Gastrointestinal, CXR= Chest X ray, IgA= Immunoglobulin A, IgG= Immunoglobulin G, IgM= Immunoglobulin M, CT= Computed tomography, PMN= Polymorphonuclear cells, ESR= Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP= C-reactive protein, TS= Transferrin saturation, SF= Serum Ferritin, SMA= Superior mesenteric artery, SMV= Superior mesenteric vein, ECG= Electrocardiogram, US = Ultrasound

Classification of pain in the abdomen based on etiology Disease Clinical manifestations Diagnosis Comments Symptoms Signs Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo- tension Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Abdominal causes Inflammatory causes Pancreato-biliary disorders Acute cholecystitis RUQ + − + + − − − − − − − Hypoactive Hyperbilirubinemia Leukocytosis Ultrasound shows: Gallstone Inflammation Murphy’s sign Acute suppurative cholangitis RUQ + + + + − − − − + + + N Abnormal LFT WBC >10,000 Ultrasound shows biliary dilatation/stents/tumor Septic shock occurs with features of SIRS Acute cholangitis RUQ + − − + − − − − − − − N Abnormal LFT Ultrasound shows biliary dilatation/stents/tumor Biliary drainage (ERCP) + IV antibiotics Cholelithiasis RUQ/Epigastric ± − ± ± − − − − − − − Normal to hyperactive for dislodged stone Leukocytosis Ultrasound shows gallstone Fatty food intolerance Acute pancreatitis Epigastric + − + ± − − + − ± − − N Increased amylase / lipase Ultrasound shows evidence of inflammation CT scan shows severity of pancreatitis Pain radiation to back Primary biliary cirrhosis RUQ/Epigastric − − − + − − − − − − − N Increased AMA level, abnormal LFTs ERCP Pruritis Primary sclerosing cholangitis RUQ + − − + − − − − − − − N Increased liver enzymes Increased IgM, IgG4 Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (p-ANCA) Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) Anti-smooth muscle antibody (Anti-Sm) Anti-endothelial antibody Anti-cardiolipin antibody ERCP and MRCP shows Multiple segmental strictures Mural irregularities Biliary dilatation and diverticula Distortion of biliary tree The risk of cholangiocarcinoma in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis is 400 times higher than the risk in the general population. Hepatic causes Viral hepatitis RUQ + − + + − Positive in Hep A and E + − Positive in fulminant hepatitis Positive in acute + N Abnormal LFTs Viral serology US Hep A and E have fecal-oral route of transmission Hep B and C transmits via blood transfusion and sexual contact. Liver abscess RUQ + + + + − ± + − + + ± Normal or hypoactive CBC Blood cultures Abnormal liver function tests US CT Hepatocellular carcinoma/Metastasis RUQ + − − + − − + − − − − Normal Hyperactive if obstruction present High levels of AFP in serum Abnormal liver function tests US CT Liver biopsy Other symptoms: Splenomegaly Variceal bleeding Ascites Spider nevi Asterixis Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo- tension Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments Budd-Chiari syndrome RUQ ± − − ± − − − Positive in liver failure leading to varices − − − N Elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels may be more than five times the upper limit of the normal range. Elevated serum alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels, decreased serum albumin level. Findings on CT scan suggestive of Budd-Chiari syndrome include: Early enhancement of the caudate lobe and central liver around the inferior vena cava Delayed enhancement of the peripheral liver with accompanying central low density (flip-flop appearance) Peripheral zones of the liver show reversed portal venous blood flow In the chronic phase, there is caudate lobe enlargement and atrophy of the peripheral liver in affected areas Ascitic fluid examination shows: Total protein more than 2.5 g per deciliter White blood cells are usually less than 500/μL. Hemochromatosis RUQ − − − − − − − Positive in cirrhotic patients − − − N >60% TS >240 μg/L SF Raised LFT Hyperglycemia Ultrasound shows evidence of cirrhosis Extra intestinal findings: Hyperpigmentation Diabetes mellitus Arthralgia Impotence in males Cardiomyopathy Atherosclerosis Hypopituitarism Hypothyroidism Extrahepatic cancer Prone to specific infections Cirrhosis RUQ − − − + − − + + + − − N Hypoalbuminemia Prolonged PT Abnormal LFTs Hyponatremia Thrombocytopenia US Nodular, shrunken liver Ascites Stigmata of liver disease Cruveilhier- Baumgarten murmur Disease Abdominal Pain Fever Rigors and chills Nausea or vomiting Jaundice Constipation Diarrhea Weight loss GI bleeding Hypo- tension Guarding Rebound Tenderness Bowel sounds Lab Findings Imaging Comments Intestinal causes Acute appendicitis Starts in epigastrium, migrates to RLQ + Positive in pyogenic appendicitis + − − ± − − Positive in perforated appendicitis + + Hypoactive Leukocytosis Ct scan Ultrasound Positive Rovsing sign Positive Obturator sign Positive Iliopsoas sign Irritable bowel syndrome Diffuse − − − − ± ± + − − − − N Normal Normal Symptomatic treatment High dietary fiber Osmotic laxatives Antispasmodic drugs Hollow Viscous Obstruction Biliary colic RUQ − − + + − − − − − − − N ↑ bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase Ultrasound Extra-abdominal causes Pulmonary causes Pulmonary embolism RUQ/LUQ ± − − − − − − − ± − − N ABGs D-dimer CXR V/Q scan Spiral CT pulmonary angiogram Dyspnea Tachycardia Pleuretic chest pain Pneumonia RUQ/LUQ + + + − − ± − − + − − Normal or hypoactive ABGs Leukocytosis Pancytopenia CXR CT chest Bronchoscopy Shortness of breath Cough

References

Template:WH Template:WS