# A Case of Cholecystitis Camouflaging Cholangiocarcinoma

## TL;DR

A woman initially diagnosed with gallbladder inflammation was later found to have advanced bile duct cancer.

## Contribution

This case highlights the challenge of diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma due to its early asymptomatic nature.

## Key findings

- The patient was initially diagnosed with acute cholecystitis but was found to have advanced-stage cholangiocarcinoma.
- The patient opted for palliative care due to the poor prognosis of advanced-stage cholangiocarcinoma.
- The case emphasizes the difficulty in detecting cholangiocarcinoma at an early stage.

## Abstract

Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignancy that is hard to detect and resect, due mostly to its location as well as a lack of current screening tests. When found, it is often in the advanced stage as patients are usually asymptomatic during the early course of the disease; the overall prognosis is modest in patients diagnosed at this stage. Here, we discuss the case of a 48-year-old female with no significant past medical history or family history who presented to our hospital with symptoms of acute cholecystitis with a supporting ultrasound. She proceeded to get a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for the same, but an ensuing workup and pathology revealed advanced-stage cholangiocarcinoma. The patient ultimately opted for palliative care given her poor prognosis.