Differential diagnosis and treatment options for xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the differential diagnosis and treatment options for xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC), the presentations and management of 68 patients were described.


METHODS
Demographical and clinical data from 68 cases of XGC treated between January 2004 and January 2010 were analyzed. Clinical characteristics, radiological and surgical findings, histopathological features and postoperative recoveries were recorded. Clinical features of laparoscopic cholecystectomy versus open surgery and XGC versus gallbladder (GB) cancer were compared.


RESULTS
The CA19-9 levels of XGC and coexisting GB cancer were significantly different (p = 0.0034). In radiological findings, focal thickening of the GB wall was more frequent in coexisting GB cancer, early enhancement of the GB was observed more often in coexisting GB cancer, and lymph node enlargement was seen more often in coexisting GB cancer (p < 0.05). There were also significant differences between laparoscopic and open surgery for CA19-9, intramural hypoattenuated nodule, pericholecystic invasion, lymph node enlargement and maximum thickness, focal thickening, heterogeneous enhancement and early enhancement of the GB wall (p < 0.05). These findings were confirmed by multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound, computed tomography scan and intraoperative frozen section were the helpful modalities for XGC diagnosis. CA19-9 (>37 kU/l), pericholecystic invasion, lymph node enlargement (>10 mm), and focal thickening and early enhancement of the GB wall were the criteria for open surgery. In some selected cases, laparoscopic cholecystectomy was preferable.
Department of Surgery, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Nankai Clinical School of Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Yunfeng
Y
Cui
Hongtao
H
Zhang
Erpeng
E
Zhao
Naiqiang
N
Cui
Zhonglian
Z
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002765:Cholecystography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014973:Xanthomatosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; C578959:carbohydrate antigen 199, human