Health Library CholecystitisFrom Healthwise

National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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It is possible that the main title of the report Cholecystitis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

• None

• Gallstone Cholecystitis
• Acalculous Cholecystitis

Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, the pear-shaped muscular sac that lies below the liver. The gallbladder’s main function is to store and concentrate bile and to expel the bile through the bile duct during the digestion of fats. (Bile is a greenish-brown liquid produced by the liver that breaks down fats present in the small intestine during digestion.) Cholecystitis may come on suddenly (acute) or may persist over a period of time (chronic). Acute cholecystitis is usually caused by obstruction of the outlet of the gallbladder, which is often due to the development of a stone formed in the biliary tract (gallstone or biliary calculus). Repeated mild episodes of acute cholecystitis may result in chronic cholecystitis, which may be characterized by thickening and shrinking of the gallbladder walls and a resulting inability to store bile. Cholecystitis may cause a variety of symptoms including severe pain in the right side of the abdomen (right upper quadrant) and/or back, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, fever, and persistent yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes, and whites of the eyes (jaundice). In some cases, there may be additional symptoms.
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Digestive Disease National Coalition
507 Capitol Court
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20002
Tel: (202)544-7497
Fax: (202)546-7105
Email: scott@hmcw.org
Internet: http://www.ddnc.org

NIH/National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
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Bethesda, MD 20892-3570
Tel: (301)654-3810
Fax: (301)907-8906
Tel: (800)891-5389
Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: http://www.niddk.nih.gov

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  5/8/2008
Copyright  1989, 1997, 1998 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

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