cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder. [chole- + G. kystis, bladder, + -itis, inflammation]

- acute c. inflammation and/or hemorrhagic necrosis, with variable infection, ulceration, and neutrophilic infiltration of the gallbladder wall; usually due to impaction of a stone in the cystic duct.

- chronic c. chronic inflammation of the gallbladder, usually secondary to lithiasis, with lymphocytic infiltration and fibrosis that may produce marked thickening of the wall.

- emphysematous c. c. due to infection with gas-producing bacteria, giving rise to gas in the gallbladder.

- xanthogranulomatous c. chronic c. with conspicuous nodular infiltration by lipid macrophages; may be associated with biliary obstruction by calculi.

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cho·le·cys·ti·tis -(.)sis-'tīt-əs n, pl -tit·i·des -'tit-ə-.dēz inflammation of the gallbladder

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n.

inflammation of the gall bladder. Acute cholecystitis is due to bacterial infection, causing fever and acute pain over the gall bladder. It is usually treated by rest and antibiotics. Chronic cholecystitis is often associated with gallstone and causes recurrent episodes of upper abdominal pain. It is also associated with cholecystitis glandularis proliferans - thickening of the gall-bladder wall and epithelial changes (crypt formation, hypertrophy). Recurrent bacterial infection may be the cause of chronic cholecystitis, but the physical processes leading to gallstone formation may also be important. It may require treatment by cholecystectomy. See also cholesterosis, Murphy's sign.

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cho·le·cys·ti·tis (ko″lə-sis-tiґtis) [cholecyst- + -itis] inflammation of the gallbladder; see calculous c. and acalculous c. Some types are named for other characteristics and may be either calculous or acalculous.