Abstract

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory condition, which typically involves the small and large bowel but can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Complications of CD include gallstone formation and cholecystitis. Impaired reabsorption of bile salts in the small bowel and CD-related surgeries are key factors in the development of CD-related gallstones, although other factors are also important. Direct CD-related inflammation of the gallbladder is very unusual and the typical histological features of CD are rarely encountered in cholecystectomy specimens of individuals with CD. We present a case of a man in his early 60s with CD, previous right hemicolectomy and a history of gallstones, who presented with chronic cholecystitis. Following cholecystectomy, pathological examination of the gallbladder unexpectedly demonstrated typical features of CD, including lymphoid aggregates and non-caseating mucosal granulomata.