Emphysematous Cholecystitis in a Patient without Known Risk Factors: A Case Report

Abstract

A 64-year-old woman presented with acute right upper abdominal pain and fever. Abdominal computed tomography revealed emphysematous cholecystitis, pneumobilia and a liver tumor. A left breast tumor was also noted upon physical examination. The patient underwent catheter drainage of the gallbladder, but her symptoms were barely relieved; therefore, a cholecystectomy, liver tumor resection and a biopsy of the left breast tumor were performed later. Pathologic analysis revealed emphysematous cholecystitis with gangrenous change of the gallbladder and an invasive ductal carcinoma of the left breast with hepatic metastasis. Our patient has no common risk factors of emphysematous cholecystitis, such as diabetes, old age or the male gender. Left breast cancer with liver metastasis may be a predisposing factor.