| Porcelain gallbladder | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| ICD-9 | 575.8 |
| eMedicine | radio/569 |
Porcelain gallbladder is a calcification of the gallbladder believed to be brought on by excessive gallstones but more studies are necessary to determine the exact cause.
It is predominantly found in overweight female patients of middle age.
Contents |
Porcelain gallbladder often results in a diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. The association with the two is uncertain; gallbladder cancer is rare, but is almost always found with porcelain gallbladder. The prognosis is poor, in that the gallbladder is usually asymptomatic until the cancer has spread.
Two review articles found the incidence of calcified gallbladder associated with cancer of the gallbladder was only about 1%. They also found that of 69 calcified gallbladders only 3 of them contained cancer.[1][2]
Symptoms can include abdominal pain (especially after eating), jaundice, and vomiting.
If porcelain gallbladder is found very early before symptoms present themselves (such as during a surgery of some sort), the gallbladder can be removed and the chances for recovery are very good. Treatments are still being developed and doctors are studying new ways to treat this condition at more developed stages.
| • | The term "porcelain gallbladder" has been used to emphasize the blue discoloration and brittle consistency of the gallbladder wall at surgery. | &bull | Some authorities eschew these terms and instead call all calcified gallbladders "porcelain gallbladders." The true incidence of porcelain gallbladder is unknown, but it is reported to be 0.6-0.8%, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:5. | &bull | Patients with porcelain gallbladder are usually asymptomatic, and the condition is usually found incidentally on plain abdominal radiographs, sonograms, or computed tomography (CT) images. | |
|
|