Synchronous granulomatous cholecystitis and fibroelastosis of the gallbladder

We describe an unusual form of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis in a 69-year-old man, with abundant intramural concrement formation and a local fibroelastosis of the adjacent interstitium and arteries. The gallbladder was obtained following resection of an adenocarcinoma of the gastro-esophageal junction without evidence of metastases. Only two cases of fibroelastosis of the gallbladder have previously been reported, and its pathogenesis is unknown. The influence of bile that leaked into the interstitium or a specific local tissue response to cytokines secreted by histiocytes are among the possible explanations for its development in our case.