Choledochoduodenal fistula presenting with pneumobilia in a patient with gallbladder cancer: a case report

Spontaneous biliary tract fistulas are rare entities. Most of them are associated with long-standing gallstones (especially common bile duct stones, or recurrent biliary tract infections), some with more uncommon diseases such as gallbladder cancer. Some authors believe that back flow from fistulas predisposes patients to gallbladder cancer and some believe that cancer causes necrosis and fistula formation. Gallbladder cancer has a dismal prognosis and 85% of patients are dead within a year of diagnosis. A common complication of gallbladder cancer is obstruction of the common bile duct, which may produce multiple intra-hepatic abscesses in or near the tumor-laden gallbladder. Fistula formation may further complicate the clinical picture.

We present a case of choledochoduodenal fistula in a 60-year-old diabetic African-American woman with gallbladder cancer. The initial clinical presentation was confusing and complex. Our patient was also found to have a gallbladder fossa abscess that was drained percutaneously as another complicating factor relating to her cancer. She developed myocardial infarction, massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding and respiratory arrest during her stay in hospital. Computed tomography was very helpful in assessing our patient and we discuss how, in a patient with pneumobilia, it can be helpful for detecting fistula, air in bile ducts or to show contractions of the gallbladder.

We believe this case merits reporting as it shows an entity that is not frequently thought of, is hard to diagnose and can be fatal, as in our patient. Careful evaluation, and computed tomography studies and endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography are helpful in early diagnosis and finding better management options for these patients.