The porcelain gallbladder gets its name from its resemblance to white porcelain.
Gross appearance:
(1) an enlarged gallbladder that may be whitish in color
(2) calcification of the mucosa and/or the entire gallbladder wall
Imaging findings:
(1) complete or partial calcification of the mucosal layer or entire wall of the gallbladder
(2) often the presence of gallstones
(3) thick shadowing in the gallbladder fossa on ultrasonography
Histologic appearance:
(1) chronic cholecystitis with fibrosis and calcifications
Complications:
(1) adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder (current rate estimates lower than previously reported)
(2) relative high rate of postoperative complications
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Specialty: Gastroenterology
