pathology

Last reviewed 01/2018

The pathophysiology of chronic cholecystitis is poorly understood.

  • it is thought to be due to recurrent mucosal trauma caused by repeated episodes of low grade gallbladder obstruction
  • there is no relationship between the number of stones or their overall volume and the degree of gallbladder wall inflammation 
    • stones were not associated with 12-13% of patients with chronic cholecystitis (1)

The role of bacterial infection of the bile in the disease process is not significant since less than one third of bile cultures contain E coli or enterococci.

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