BACKGROUND: Cholecystocolocutaneous fistula (CCCF) is a rare complication of gallstone disease resulting from spillage of gallstones from perforation of an empyema of the gallbladder, which can pose diagnostic dilemmas. We describe a patient, who presented initially with a swelling followed by discharging sinuses on her right flank where a diagnosis of CCCF was made and was treated surgically with satisfactory outcome.
METHODS: A computed tomography (CT) scan showed an ill-defined soft tissue mass in the right subhepatic space and a fistulogram demonstrated passage of contrast into the gallbladder fossa and hepatic flexure of colon. At laparotomy, a cutaneous fistula containing two pigment stones led to the gallbladder fossa and hepatic flexure of colon.
RESULTS: Debridement of infected granulation tissues which had replaced the gallbladder, closure of the cystic duct stump and colonic fistula followed by excision of the fistula tract led to complete resolution.
CONCLUSIONS: CCCF is a rare complication of perforated gallbladder with spillage of calculi, and a fistulogram is helpful in establishing the diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of retrieving spilled stones following interventions in the gallbladder to prevent the complication.