Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis in a 15-Year-Old Girl: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is a rare and severe variant of cholecystitis that poses significant diagnostic and surgical challenges. While predominantly seen in adults, its occurrence in pediatric patients is exceedingly rare, with very few cases documented in the literature. We present the case of a 15-year-old girl initially diagnosed with acute calculous cholecystitis who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraoperatively, extensive pseudo-tumorous inflammation was identified, with fusion of the gallbladder into the omentum, duodenum, and colon, necessitating a subtotal cholecystectomy. Her postoperative recovery was complex, requiring endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and she was ultimately discharged after a prolonged hospital stay. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of XGC. This case highlights the complexities of managing this rare entity in pediatric patients.

Keywords: adolescent; bile leak; cholecystitis; endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; general surgery; laparoscopic cholecystectomy; pediatric cholecystitis; pediatric surgery; subtotal cholecystectomy; xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis.