Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: Is an initial laparoscopic approach feasible?

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is an inflammatory disease with pathologically distinct characteristics such as accumulation of lipid-laden macrophages, fibrous tissue, and acute and chronic inflammatory cells. It often involves adjacent organs and mimics gallbladder cancer. The purpose of this study was to review the clinical findings of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis and to determine the appropriate treatment plan.

We retrospectively analyzed clinical demographics, operation records, and postoperative results of 31 patients with a pathological diagnosis of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis who underwent surgery between January 2010 and 2015 at two university hospitals.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis was found in 0.81% (31/3820) of cholecystectomy patients in our hospital over 5 years. The most frequently observed clinical symptom was abdominal pain (21 patients, 67.7%). Preoperative radiological studies showed cholelithiasis in 23 patients (74.2%), thickening of the gallbladder wall in 23 patients (74.2%), and suspicious cancer in 2 patients (6.5%), but there were no cases of gallbladder cancer accompanying xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was planned in all patients and was converted to open cholecystectomy in five patients. T-tube choledocholithotomy was needed in one patient due to common bile duct injury. Mean operation time was 149.2 min, and estimated blood loss was 270.1 mL. There were two patients with complications greater than Clavien–Dindo Classification grade III (CBD injury, pleural effusion).

An initial laparoscopic approach is possible for xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis. However, it is troublesome and challenging, with significantly higher conversion and complication rates compared to standard laparoscopic cholecystectomy.