Pericholecystic fluid

An abnormal accumulation of inflammatory or exudative fluid surrounding the gallbladder, typically detected on imaging and reflecting local inflammation, tissue injury, or leakage from the gallbladder.

Causes

• Inflammatory and infectious causes

  • Acute cholecystitis (most common cause)

  • Acute acalculous cholecystitis

  • Gangrenous cholecystitis

  • Gallbladder empyema

• Gallbladder wall injury and perforation

  • Gallbladder perforation

  • Necrosis of the gallbladder wall

• Obstructive causes

  • Cholelithiasis

  • Biliary sludge causing obstruction

  • Gallbladder carcinoma

• Traumatic and iatrogenic causes

  • Abdominal trauma involving the gallbladder

  • Postoperative bile leak

  • Complications after hepatobiliary procedures

  • Percutaneous gallbladder drainage complications

• Adjacent inflammatory processes:

  • Pancreatitis

  • Severe systemic illness