Gallbladder tuberculosis: an unlikely diagnosis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract

We present a rare case of isolated gallbladder tuberculosis (GBTB) confirmed on histological diagnosis after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for suspected chronic cholecystitis. GBTB remains an extremely rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) and is furthermore unlikely to be seen in isolation from miliary or other abdominal tuberculosis (TB). It accounts for less than 1% of all TB cases, with even rarer presentations in the absence of other TB infection within the body. Diagnosis is hence often overlooked if clinical suspicion is not present, or histopathology is not considered.