title: The clinical and radiological features of cholecystocolic fistulae.
abstract: The clinical and radiological features of seven patients presenting with cholecystocolic fistulae are reviewed. The majority of the patients were elderly (age range 43-85 years, mean 70.7 years) and there was a female preponderance (6:1). The condition usually has a benign clinical course. Diarrhoea was the most common presenting symptom and the typical clinical features of gallbladder disease were absent. Cholangitis occurred in only one patient. The time between onset of symptoms and diagnosis varied from 1 week to 2 years (mean 22 weeks). In only one patient was the diagnosis of biliary-intestinal fistula suspected on the basis of the plain abdominal radiograph (Case 5). A diagnosis of cholecystocolic fistula was established by barium enema (5 cases), endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (1 case) and diagnostic laparotomy (1 case). The only cause identified in this series was acute or chronic cholecystitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hession
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rawlinson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Keating
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Guyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D001658:Biliary Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004733:Enema; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate