Massively distended, necrotic and hemorrhagic gallbladder in a long-term octreotide-treated patient with added everolimus.

INTRODUCTION: Long-term treatment with somatostatin analogs, such as octreotide, is well known to promote gallstones formation. Immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplantation is also associated with increased occurrence of gallstones. But acute cholecystitis develops only in a few cholelithiasis patients. However, it is not known whether long-term somatostatin analog therapy and immunosuppressants aggravate the severity of disease if the patient develops cholecystitis.

CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of severe cholecystitis in a patient with metastatic carcinoid cancer on octreotide long-acting release therapy for seven years with newly added immunosuppressant, everolimus.

DISCUSSION: Cholelithiasis as well as cholecystitis develop more often in patients on somatostatin analogs and immunosuppressants than in general population. However, morbidity remains negligible.

CONCLUSION: No conclusion can be drawn on the contribution of somatostatin analogs and immunosuppressant in the occurrence of severe cholecystitis. Prophylactic cholecystectomy is not indicated in patients with this medication.