Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis with a liver abscess and metastatic endophthalmitis: report of a case

There have been no reported cases of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis with a liver abscess and metastatic endophthalmitis in the literature. There has been only one other case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis associated with a liver abscess in Japan prior to the present report. A 53-year-old man was admitted to a local hospital complaining of high fever. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a liver abscess. After percutaneous transhepatic abscess drainage, he complained of an abnormal sensation in his left eyeball and was diagnosed to have endophthalmitis. After being treated for the endophthalmitis, he was referred to our hospital to have the liver abscess evaluated. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed a normal biliary system without any communication with the liver abscess. Two weeks after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography he complained of right hypochondralgia. Ultrasonography revealed the presence of sludge in the swollen gallbladder. Under a diagnosis of cholecystitis with a liver abscess, a cholecystectomy was performed. A histological examination indicated xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis based on the findings of a granulomatous lesion consisting of foamy cells in the gallbladder wall. We herein present the first known case of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis with a liver abscess and metastatic endophthalmitis, while also making a review of the literature.