A Review of the Literature on the Porcelain Gallbladder
Main Article Content
Abstract
Porcelain gallbladder is a rare and potentially serious condition characterized by calcification of the gallbladder wall. Chronic inflammation and bile flow obstruction are thought to be important factors in its pathogenesis. The clinical presentation of this condition can range from asymptomatic to severe complications such as bile duct obstruction and acute cholecystitis. Diagnosis is made by a combination of clinical, radiological and biopsy findings. Treatment is controversial due to the rarity of the condition and the lack of clinical studies. In most cases, cholecystectomy is recommended as definitive treatment to prevent serious complications. Careful evaluation and an individualized approach to the management of this potentially serious condition is needed.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
I. Stephen A.E., Berger D.L. Carcinoma in the porcelain gallbladder: A relationship revisited. Surgery. 2001; 129:699-703. doi: 10.1067/msy.2001.113888.
II. Schnelldorfer T. Porcelain gallbladder: A benign process or concern for malignancy? J. Gastrointest. Surg. 2013; 17:1161-1168. doi: 10.1007/s11605-013-2170-0.
III. Khan Z.S., Livingston E.H., Huerta S. Reassessing the need for prophylactic surgery in patients with porcelain gallbladder case series and systematic review of the literature. Arch. Surg. 2011; 146:1143-1147. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.2011.257.
IV. Cornell C.M., Clarke R. Vicarious Calcification Involving the Gallbladder. [(accessed on 24 april 2023)]; Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/13627983/
V. Kane R.A., Jacobs R., Katz J., Costello P. Porcelain Gallbladder: Ultrasound and CT Appearance. [(accessed on 24 april 2023)]; Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6729103/
VI. Towfigh S., Mcfadden D.W., Cortina G.R., Thompson J.E., Tompkins R.K., Chandler C., Hines O.J. Porcelain Gallbladder Is Not Associated with Gallbladder Carcinoma. [(accessed on 24 april 2023)]; Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11206901/
VII. Chen G.L., Akmal Y., Di Fronzo A.L., Vuong B., O'Connor V. Porcelain Gallbladder: No Longer an Indication for Prophylactic Cholecystectomy. [(accessed on 24 april 2023)]; Available online:
a. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26463284/
VIII. Ashur H., Siegal B., Oland Y., Adam Y.G. Calcified Gallbladder: (Porcelain Gallbladder) [(accessed on 24 april 2023)]; Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/646619/
IX. 9. Everhart J.E., Ruhl C.E. Burden of Digestive Diseases in the United States Part III: Liver, Biliary Tract, and Pancreas. [(accessed on 24 april 2023)]; Available online:
a. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19245868/
X. Festi D., Dormi A., Capodicasa S., Staniscia T., Attili A.F., Loria P., Pazzi P., Mazzella G., Sama C., Roda E., et al. Incidence of gallstone disease in Italy: Results from a multicenter, population-based Italian study (the MICOL project) World J. Gastroenterol. 2008; 14:5282-5289. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.5282.
XI. Cirillo D.J., Wallace R.B., Rodabough R.J., Greenland P., Lacroix A.Z., Limacher M.C., Larson J.C. Effect of Estrogen Therapy on Gallbladder Disease. [((accessed on 24 april 2023)]; Available online:
a. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15657326/
XII. Everhart J.E., Khare M., Hill M., Maurer K.R. Prevalence and ethnic differences in gallbladder disease in the United States. Gastroenterology. 1999; 117:632-639. doi: 10.1016/S0016-5085(99)70456-7.
XIII. Rebholz C., Krawczyk M., Lammert F. Genetics of gallstone disease. Eur. J. Clin. Investig. 2018; 48:1-7. doi: 10.1111/eci.12935.
XIV. Brandão De Oliveira C.I., Chaim E.A., Da Silva B.B. Impact of rapid weight reduction on risk of cholelithiasis after bariatric surgery. Obes. Surg. 2003; 13:625-628. doi:
a. 10.1381/096089203322190862.
XV. Tucker O.N., Fajnwaks P., Szomstein S., Rosenthal R.J. Is concomitant cholecystectomy necessary in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery? Surg. Endosc. Other Interv. Tech. 2008; 22:2450-2454. doi: 10.1007/s00464-008-9769-3.
XVI. Lammert F., Gurusamy K., Ko C.W., Miquel J.-F., Méndez-Sánchez N., Portincasa P., van Erpecum K.J., van Laarhoven C.S., Wang D.Q.-H. Gallstones. Nat. Rev. Dis Prim. 2016; 2:16024. doi: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.24.
XVII. Gitelson S., Schwartz A., Fraenkel M., Chowers I. Gall-bladder dysfunction in diabetes mellitus: The diabetic neurogenic gall bladder. Diabetes. 1963; 12:308-312. doi: 10.2337/diab.12.4.308.