Emphysematous cholecystitis and its CT and MR imaging features
Emphysematous cholecystitis is a rare, rapidly progressive variant of acute cholecystitis, which is related to gas-forming infection (most often by Clostridium welchii and Escherichia coli ) in the setting of gallbladder vascular insufficiency. 75% of cases occur in men, commonly in patients with diabetes mellitus, and are associated with a higher rate of gallbladder perforation.
CT and MRI findings include gas within the gallbladder lumen or wall (sometimes with involvement of the pericholecystic tissues), along with other findings of acute cholecystitis described above.
