Introduction

Eosinophilic cholecystitis is a rare form of cholecystitis, characterized histologically by a dense, transmural eosinophilic infiltrate^1,2. It is an uncommon condition that was first described in 1949 by Albot and colleagues. It has a clinical presentation similar to that of typical cholecystitis; etiology is not sharply defined but suggested to be associated with allergic disease, local diathesis involving gallstones, parasites and acalculous cholecystitis, hypereosinophilic syndromes (where the eosinophils invade tissues such as brain, heart, lung, liver, and gallbladder), and eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE)^2-7. Eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract may occur in these conditions also in eosinophilic granulomatous hepatitis and eosinophilic ascites⁸. The symptoms observed vary as to the location and depth of the gastrointestinal tract affected.⁹

Case summary

A 30-year-old lady presented with an episode of cholecystitis 6 month back followed by mild continuous pain in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen associated with vomiting, particularly after meals. She had lost 6kg weight in the last 5 months. Her past medical history was significant for anti-tuberculosis treatment 1 year back (no clinico-investigative evidence of tuberculosis). There was no allergy. The physical examination was essentially normal.

Initial laboratory investigations showed a white blood count of 5700/mm³ with only 2 % eosinophils. Her liver function tests, renal function tests and complete urine examination were within normal limits. She had undergone serial ultrasonography of the abdomen which showed microlithiasis on few occasions with thick gall bladder wall with echogenic foci in the gall bladder wall. Her barium meal follow-through was normal. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed moderate antral gastritis with grade II reflux oesophagitis. On contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen, diffuse thickening of the muscularis wall with proliferation and formation of intramural diverticula was found and a provisional diagnosis of adenomyomatosis of the gall bladder was made.

The patient underwent an open cholecystectomy. Intra-operatively, the gall bladder was very thick-walled with enlarged cystic and pericholedochal lymphnodes, but there was no evidence of cysts or any ascites or organ infiltration (fig. 1). A small wedge of the liver was resected along with the gall bladder (fig. 2). Histo-pathological examination reported eosinophilic cholecystitis. The postoperative period was uneventful and she was discharged. On follow-up she had gained 4 kg weight in one month.

Figure 1

Fig. 1: Photograph showing a thick gall bladder with no evidence of any cyst or lymph node.

Figure 2

Fig. 2: Cut section of gall bladder showing very thick gall bladder wall.

Discussion

Most of gall stones diseases are asymptomatic, but they become symptomatic when there is obstruction in the neck of gallbladder or cystic duct, cholecystitis being one of sequels of symptomatic gall stones. In cholecystitis, the inflammatory process involves influx of inflammatory cells in the wall of the gall bladder. Lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils comprise the inflammatory infiltrate along with mucosal edema, vascular congestion, and regions of necrosis. Sometimes, eosinophils come in abundance and collect forming part of eosinophilic cholecystitis; there are signs of inflammation, granulation tissue, and fibroblast propagation^10-11.

Eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract has also been reported to occur in many conditions, but the symptoms vary with the depth and location of the gastrointestinal tract affected.⁸ With mucosal invasion, post-prandial nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption, and protein-losing enteropathy are observed, while with muscularis propria invasion, abdominal distention and partial or complete bowel obstruction are the main issue and with subserosal invasion, abdominal pain, distention and ascites occur.⁹

Fox et al. conducted a study in 1972 which included 625 cholecystectomy specimens, out of which 16 had eosinophilic infiltration.¹⁰ Based upon different histologic features of the inflammatory infiltrate, the majority was included in “eosinophils comprising up to 50% of cells”, which consisted of group one of two in the study.

Various etio-pathogenesis has been proposed for this condition.¹⁴ Some authors have reported eosinophilic infiltration of the gall bladder or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract with some allergic stimulant while others have reported it without any association, which is known as idiopathic.^1-9,11-15 Literature describes it to be mainly associated with parasites^2-3,13 and drugs^1,6,15 or to be a part of a syndrome.^7-9,12,15. Peripheral eosinophilia is also found in some patients as in the expression of hypereosinophilic syndromes^1,8. As no association was found in our case, it was considered as idiopathic eosinophilic cholecystitis. Pathologic examination showed eosinophilic infiltration without any evidence of parasites. The patient recovered remarkably as evident by gaining weight and no investigation was found to show peripheral eosinophilia till last follow-up.