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Porcelain gallbladder

Case contributed by Frank Gaillard
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Three-month history of diffuse abdominal pain and weight loss of 20 kilograms.

Patient Data

Age: 85 years
Gender: Female

Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.

Plain film abdomen

x-ray

There is calcification of a near-spherical structure in the right upper quadrant most likely representing the gallbladder. 

ct

A computed tomographic scan showed that the calcification seen on the plain abdominal radiograph represented the wall of the gallbladder. The scan also showed ascites, multiple lesions in the liver, and nodularity of the peritoneum and small bowel mesentery. These findings suggested metastatic carcinoma of the gallbladder, but the patient refused further investigation.

Case Discussion

On physical examination, she had a hard, non-tender, baseball-sized mass in the right upper abdominal quadrant.

Authors: Herbert L. Fred, MD and Hendrik A. van Dijk

Original source: http://cnx.org/content/m14939/latest/

Licence: Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 2.0)

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