Cholecystitis Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Alan A Bloom, MD; Chief Editor: Julian Katz, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jun 30, 2011
 

History

The most common presenting symptom of acute cholecystitis is upper abdominal pain. Signs of peritoneal irritation may be present, and in some patients, the pain may radiate to the right shoulder or scapula. Frequently, the pain begins in the epigastric region and then localizes to the right upper quadrant (RUQ). Although the pain may initially be described as colicky, it becomes constant in virtually all cases. Nausea and vomiting are generally present, and patients may report fever.

Most patients with acute cholecystitis describe a history of biliary pain. Some patients may have documented gallstones. Acalculous biliary colic also occurs, most commonly in young to middle-aged females. The presentation is almost identical to calculous biliary colic with the exception of reference range laboratory values and no findings of cholelithiasis on ultrasound. Cholecystitis is differentiated from biliary colic by the persistence of constant severe pain for more than 6 hours.

Patients with acalculous cholecystitis may present similarly to patients with calculous cholecystitis, but acalculous cholecystitis frequently occurs suddenly in severely ill patients without a prior history of biliary colic. Often, patients with acalculous cholecystitis may present with fever and sepsis alone, without history or physical examination findings consistent with acute cholecystitis.

Cholecystitis in elderly persons

Elderly patients (especially patients with diabetes) may present with vague symptoms and without many key historical and physical findings. Pain and fever may be absent, and localized tenderness may be the only presenting sign. Elderly patients may also progress to complicated cholecystitis rapidly and without warning.

Cholecystitis in children

The pediatric population may also present without many of the classic findings. Children who are at higher risk for developing cholecystitis include patients with sickle cell disease, seriously ill children, those on prolonged TPN, those with hemolytic conditions, and those with congenital and biliary anomalies.[8] For more information, see the Medscape Reference article Pediatric Cholecystitis.

Complications

Bacterial proliferation within the obstructed gallbladder results in empyema of the organ. Patients with empyema may have a toxic reaction and may have more marked fever and leukocytosis.[9] The presence of empyema frequently requires conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy.[10]

In rare instances, a large gallstone may erode through the gallbladder wall into an adjacent viscus, usually the duodenum. Subsequently, the stone may become impacted in the terminal ileum or in the duodenal bulb and/or pylorus, causing a gallstone ileus.

Emphysematous cholecystitis occurs in approximately 1% of cases and is noted by the presence of gas in the gallbladder wall from the invasion of gas-producing organisms, such as Escherichia coli, Clostridia perfringens, and Klebsiella species. This complication is more common in patients with diabetes, has a male predominance, and is acalculous in 28% of cases. Because of a high incidence of gangrene and perforation, emergency cholecystectomy is recommended. Perforation occurs in up to 15% of patients.[11] For more information, see the Medscape Reference article Emphysematous Cholecystitis.

Other complications include sepsis and pancreatitis.[12]

Next

Physical Examination

The physical examination may reveal fever, tachycardia, and tenderness in the RUQ or epigastric region, often with guarding or rebound. The Murphy sign, which is specific but not sensitive for cholecystitis, is described as tenderness and an inspiratory pause elicited during palpation of the RUQ. A palpable gallbladder or fullness of the RUQ is present in 30-40% of cases. Jaundice may be noted in approximately 15% of patients.

The absence of physical findings does not rule out the diagnosis of cholecystitis. Many patients present with diffuse epigastric pain without localization to the RUQ. Patients with chronic cholecystitis frequently do not have a palpable RUQ mass secondary to fibrosis involving the gallbladder.

Elderly patients and patients with diabetes frequently have atypical presentations, including absence of fever and localized tenderness with only vague symptoms.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Alan A Bloom, MD  Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Attending Physician, Department of Gastroenterology, Veterans Affairs Hospital, Bronx

Alan A Bloom, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, New York Academy of Medicine, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Zahir Amin, MD, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR  Consulting Staff, Department of Imaging, University College Hospital, UK

Zahir Amin, MD, MBBS, MRCP, FRCR is a member of the following medical societies: British Institute of Radiology, British Medical Association, and Royal College of Radiologists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

BS Anand, MD  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Baylor College of Medicine

BS Anand, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Clinton S Beverly, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Mercer University School of Medicine

Clinton S Beverly, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Burt Cagir, MD, FACS  Assistant Professor of Surgery, State University of New York Upstate Medical University; Consulting Staff, Director of Surgical Research, Robert Packer Hospital; Associate Program Director, Department of Surgery, Guthrie Clinic

Burt Cagir, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Hemalatha Chandramohan, MBBS  Registrar, General Practice, West Yorkshire, UK

Hemalatha Chandramohan, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jack A Di Palma, MD  Director, Division of Gastroenterology, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Jack A Di Palma, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Arnold C Friedman, MD, FACR  Professor, Department of Radiology, University of Florida Health Science Center; Chief, Department of Radiology, Shands-Jacksonville Hospital

Arnold C Friedman, MD, FACR is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, and Radiological Society of North America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Spencer B Gay, MD  Professor of Radiology, Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia School of Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Don Gladden, DO  Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Seton Medical Center Williamson

Don Gladden, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael A Grosso, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, St Francis Hospital

Michael A Grosso, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and Society of University Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John L Haddad, MD  Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University; Director of Body MRI, Department of Radiology, Methodist Hospital in Houston

John L Haddad, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Medical Association, and Radiological Society of North America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John D Halamka, MD, MS  Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; Chief Information Officer, CareGroup Healthcare System and Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

John D Halamka, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eugene Hardin, MD, FAAEM, FACEP  Former Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science; Former Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Martin Luther King Jr/Drew Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ravi Devidas Kadasne, MBBS, MD  Specialist in Radiology, Emirates International Hospital, UAE

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John Karani, MBBS, FRCR  Clinical Director of Radiology and Consultant Radiologist, Department of Radiology, King's College Hospital, UK

John Karani, MBBS, FRCR is a member of the following medical societies: British Institute of Radiology, British Society of Interventional Radiology, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe, European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology, European Society of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and Royal College of Radiologists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Samuel M Keim, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine

Samuel M Keim, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Public Health Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Ali Nawaz Khan, MBBS, FRCS, FRCP, FRCR  Consultant Radiologist and Honorary Professor, North Manchester General Hospital Pennine Acute NHS Trust, UK

Ali Nawaz Khan, MBBS, FRCS, FRCP, FRCR is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, British Medical Association, British Society of Interventional Radiology, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of the United States, Royal College of Radiologists, and Royal College of Surgeons of England

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Lalam Radhesh Krishna, MBBS  Specialist Registrar, Department of Radiology, North Manchester General Hospital, UK

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

J David Lane, MD, RT  Chief, CMH Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Wisconsin Radiology Specialists, SC; Former Section Chief, Assistant Professor, Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

J David Lane, MD, RT is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Radiology, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Interventional Radiology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Nick Lomis, MD  QI Coordinator, Diagnostic Radiology Service, Assistant Chief, Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Nick Lomis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, and Radiological Society of North America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alexandre F Migala, DO  Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Denton Regional Medical Center

Alexandre F Migala, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Osteopathic Association, Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

H Leon Pachter, MD, FACS  Chair, George David Stewart Professor, Department of Surgery, New York University Medical Center

H Leon Pachter, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, American College of Surgeons, American Surgical Association, American Trauma Society, New York Academy of Sciences, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Manish Parikh, MD  Assistant Professor of Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine; Attending Surgeon, Director Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery, Bellevue Hospital

Manish Parikh, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Surgeons, and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Tufail Ahmed Patankar, MBBS, PhD, MSc, FRCR  Consulting Interventional Neuroradiologist, Department of Neuroradiology, Leeds General Infirmary, UK

Tufail Ahmed Patankar, MBBS, PhD, MSc, FRCR is a member of the following medical societies: British Society of Neuroradiologists and Royal College of Radiologists

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Tushar Patel, MB, ChB  Professor of Medicine, Ohio State University Medical Center

Tushar Patel, MB, ChB is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and American Gastroenterological Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Marco G Patti, MD  Professor of Surgery, Director, Center for Esophageal Diseases, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Marco G Patti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Surgeons, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Association, American Surgical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Pan-Pacific Surgical Association, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Southwestern Surgical Congress, and Western Surgical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Prospere Remy, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Attending Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center

Prospere Remy, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rahul Sharma, MD, MBA, FACEP  Assistant Professor, Weill Medical College of Cornell University; Assistant Director for Operations, Department of Emergency Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center

Rahul Sharma, MD, MBA, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Peter A D Steel, MA, MBBS  Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, Joan and Sanford I Weill Medical College of Cornell and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York Presbyterian Hospitals

Peter A D Steel, MA, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, British Medical Association, Emergency Medicine Residents Association, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alan BR Thomson, MD  Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Alberta, Canada

Alan BR Thomson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alberta Medical Association, American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, Canadian Association of Gastroenterology, Canadian Medical Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffery Wolff, DO  Consulting Staff, Department of Gastroenterology, Brooke Army Medical Center; Staff Gastroenterologist, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

Jeffery Wolff, DO, is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Anil Minocha, MD, FACP, FACG  Professor of Medicine, Director of Digestive Diseases, Medical Director of Nutrition Support, Medical Director of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, Internal Medicine Department, University of Mississippi Medical Center; Clinical Professor, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy

Anil Minocha, MD, FACP, FACG is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, American College of Forensic Examiners, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

John Geibel, MD, DSc, MA  Vice Chair and Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Gastrointestinal Medicine, and Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine; Director, Surgical Research, Department of Surgery, Yale-New Haven Hospital

John Geibel, MD, DSc, MA is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association, American Physiological Society, American Society of Nephrology, Association for Academic Surgery, International Society of Nephrology, New York Academy of Sciences, and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract

Disclosure: AMGEN Royalty Consulting; ARdelyx Ownership interest Board membership

Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP  Professor of Emergency Medicine, Professor of Internal Medicine, Program Director, Emergency Medicine, Case Medical Center, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Barry E Brenner, MD, PhD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Thoracic Society, Arkansas Medical Society, New York Academy of Medicine, New York Academy of Sciences, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Julian Katz, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine

Julian Katz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, American Trauma Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors Walter E Pofahl, MD, Amber A Guth, MD, FACS, Sumaira MacDonald, MBChB, PhD, MRCP, FRCR, and David Sherlock, MBBS, FRCS, to the development and writing of the source articles.

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Cholecystitis. Normal finding on hepatoiminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan.
Cholecystitis. Abnormal finding on hepatoiminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan.
 
 
 
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