Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis in a 15-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report and Literature Review

TL;DR

A 15-year-old girl was diagnosed with a rare form of gallbladder inflammation, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, which is typically seen in adults and is very uncommon in children.

Contribution

This paper reports a rare pediatric case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and discusses its diagnostic and surgical challenges.

Findings

XGC was confirmed in a 15-year-old girl through histopathological examination.

The case required a subtotal cholecystectomy due to extensive inflammation and adhesions.

Postoperative management was complex and included ERCP and a prolonged hospital stay.

Abstract

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a rare and severe variant of cholecystitis that poses significant diagnostic and surgical challenges. While predominantly seen in adults, its occurrence in pediatric patients is exceedingly rare, with very few cases documented in the literature. We present the case of a 15-year-old girl initially diagnosed with acute calculous cholecystitis who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraoperatively, extensive pseudo-tumorous inflammation was identified, with fusion of the gallbladder into the omentum, duodenum, and colon, necessitating a subtotal cholecystectomy. Her postoperative recovery was complex, requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and she was ultimately discharged after a prolonged hospital stay. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of XGC. This case highlights the complexities of managing this rare entity in pediatric patients.

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