Gallbladder disease in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis

The author retrospectively reviewed the records of 121 patients with known primary sclerosing cholangitis. CT scans, US scans, and cholangiograms were reviewed and correlated with surgical or autopsy findings, when available. Gallstones were found in 16 of 55 patients at surgery/autopsy. Acalculous cholecystitis was found in 31 patients, cholesterolosis in three, adenoma in three, and carcinoma in three. In 66 nonoperatively treated patients, gallstones were demonstrated by US in an additional 13 (overall prevalence = 29/121, or 24%). Thickening of the gallbladder wall without stones was demonstrated in 20 patients. Gallbladder abnormalities occur more often in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis than is generally believed, and include a variety of neoplastic and inflammatory entities