Acute acalculous cholecystitis with pericholecystitis in a patient with Epstein-Barr Virus infectious mononucleosis.

BACKGROUND

Acute acalculous cholecystitis is a rare complication of Epstein-Barr virus mononucleosis and involves thickening of the gallbladder wall.

CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a 22-year-old woman with acute acalculous cholecystitis and pericholecystitis associated with Epstein-Barr virus primary infection. Surgical intervention was not performed, even though gallbladder perforation was suspected. The patient was treated conservatively with careful monitoring, including repeated ultrasonographic examinations.

CONCLUSIONS

Epstein-Barr virus infections are usually self-limited, and surgical treatment of acute acalculous cholecystitis should only be considered when the ultrasonographic criteria persist on follow-up examinations or when they deteriorate. This is the first report of a severe course of acute acalculous cholecystitis with suspected gallbladder perforation associated with infectious mononucleosis.