Chronic Acalculous Cholecystitis

Chronic Acalculous Cholecystitis: In about 12% to 13% of patients, chronic cholecystitis is not associated with gallstones. The underlying cause may be anatomic abnormalities of the cystic duct, a disorder in the extrahepatic biliary tract, or gallbladder dysmotility (biliary dyskinesia). Most of these result in incomplete emptying of the gallbladder. Macroscopically, the gallbladder may be normal in size or appear distended, with a normal or thickened wall. The example shown here has a slightly thickened wall and a hemorrhagic mucosa.