Ann Short Rep | Volume 1, Issue 1 | Case Report | Open Access

Retroperitoneal Abscess due to Lost Gallstones Mimicking Sarcoma Case Report and Literature Review

Daniel Martins Jordão¹, Rui Martins^1*, João Santos Pereira¹ and Isabel Cristina Ferrão²

¹Department of General Surgery Resident - General Surgery, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Coimbra, Portugal
²Department - General Surgery, Institute Portuguese de Oncologic de Coimbra, Portugal

^*Correspondance to: Rui Martins 

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Abstract

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) has become a standard treatment for symptomatic gallstone disease. Lost gallstones following LC are normally considered harmless but can, in rare cases, result in abscess formation. We report a case of a 73-year old female presenting with a “12x6 cm, 12x7 cm retroperitoneal mass involving the right peri renal space, right abdominal wall and with extrinsic compression of the hepatic capsule” on CT, presumed to be retroperitoneal sarcoma. After wide excision of the mass with identification of gallstones within it, the histopathology revealed an inflammatory mass of biliary origin. Although rare, abscesses from lost gallstones can mimic retroperitoneal sarcomas, and so it is important to be aware of this challenging diagnosis. Retrieval of lost gallstones during LC is recommended to avoid this rare yet troublesome complication.

Keywords:

Abscess; Sarcoma; Cholecystectomy; Gallstones; Surgery

Citation:

Jordão DM, Martins R, Pereira JS, Ferrão IC. Retroperitoneal Abscess due to Lost Gallstones Mimicking Sarcoma Case Report and Literature Review. Ann Short Reports. 2018;1(1):1003.