Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis (pronounced: koh-luh-sis-TIE-tis) is a medical condition characterized by inflammation of the gallbladder. The term is derived from the Greek words chole meaning "bile", cyst meaning "sac", and itis meaning "inflammation".
Causes
Cholecystitis is most commonly caused by gallstones that block the tube leading out of the gallbladder. This results in a buildup of bile that can cause inflammation. Other causes of cholecystitis include bile duct problems and tumors.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cholecystitis can include severe pain in the upper right or center abdomen, pain that spreads to the right shoulder or back, tenderness over the abdomen when it's touched, nausea, vomiting, and fever.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of cholecystitis involves a physical exam, blood tests, and imaging tests. The physical examination may reveal tenderness in the abdomen. Blood tests can show signs of infection or inflammation. Imaging tests, such as an ultrasound or a CT scan, can show gallstones or inflammation of the gallbladder.
Treatment
Treatment for cholecystitis usually involves hospitalization for pain control, antibiotics to fight infection, and fasting to rest the gallbladder. In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove the gallbladder, a procedure known as a cholecystectomy.
Related Terms
- Gallbladder
- Gallstones
- Bile duct
- Cholecystectomy
- Ultrasound
- CT scan
- Physical examination
- Blood tests
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cholecystitis
- Wikipedia's article - Cholecystitis
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