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Case Reports
. 2019 Jun 10;11(6):e4874.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.4874.

Cholecystocolonic Fistula

Summar-Un-Nisa Abbasi  1 , Dawar B Khan  1 , Kumail Khandwala  1 , Rabail Raza  1 , Wasim A Memon  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cholecystocolonic Fistula

Summar-Un-Nisa Abbasi et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Cholecystocolonic fistula (CCF) is a rare complication of gallstone disease with a variable clinical presentation. It is difficult to diagnose CCF pre-operatively despite modern diagnostic and imaging modalities as they are often asymptomatic or incidentally discovered, often peri-operatively. However, management of this uncommon yet important finding is not very well described in the literature. The most common fistula is the cholecystoduodenal fistula, followed by the cholecystocolonic fistula; the cholecystogastric fistula is reportedly the least commonly reported. We report our experience with three cases of cholecystocolonic fistula discovered on imaging which were subsequently confirmed through surgery.

Keywords: cholecystocolonic fistula; cholelithiasis; colon; ct; gallbladder; gallstones; ileus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Ultrasound images
A) Liver abscess in segment IV, with a volume of approximately 175 cc. B) Contracted gallbladder containing numerous calculi giving wall echo sign.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Computed tomography images
A) Large necrotic liver abscess noted in segment IV. B) Specks of air seen within the gallbladder lumen. C & D) After rectal contrast administration, opacification of the gallbladder was noted (arrow) confirming the suspicion of cholecystocolonic fistula.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Computed tomography images
A & B) Numerous cholangitic abscesses were seen in the right lobe of liver with contracted gallbladder containing calculi and few intraluminal air specks. C & D) Close approximation of hepatic flexure of colon with the gallbladder suggesting a fistulous communication (arrow).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Computed tomography images
A) Pneumobilia seen in the intrahepatic biliary channels and air specks noted within the gallbladder lumen. B) Fistulous communication was demonstrated between the gallbladder and colon (arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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