Microgallbladder: Self-Remitting Acute Cholecystitis-Like Condition Unique to Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Microgallbladder is a nonsurgical medical condition characterized by chronic inflammation and atrophy of the gallbladder, which is considered a highly specific imaging finding unique to patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and has been incidentally reported on abdominal imaging in up to 45% of cases with CF. The impairment of exocrine water efflux in CF leads to the production of hyperviscous biliary secretions, cholestasis, and transient cystic duct obstruction of the microgallbladder causing microcholecystitis—interestingly a self-remitting acute cholecystitis-like condition without surgical intervention. We present a case report of a 22-year-old male patient with history of CF with multiple hospital admissions for unexplained chronic abdominal pain found to be caused by microgallbladder, which was managed conservatively.