J Korean Surg Soc.  2011 Dec;81(6):423-426. 10.4174/jkss.2011.81.6.423.

Gallbladder pseudolithiasis caused by ceftriaxone in young adult

• Choi YY
• Jung YH
• Choi SM
• Lee CS
• Kim D
• Hur KY

• KMID: 1445773
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/jkss.2011.81.6.423

Abstract

Ceftriaxone is a commonly used antibiotic due to some of its advantages. Reversible gallbladder (GB) sludge or stone has been reported after ceftriaxone therapy. Most of these patients have no symptom, but the GB sludge or stone can sometimes cause cholecystitis. We experienced two patients who had newly developed GB stones after ceftriaxone therapy for diverticulitis and pneumonia, and this resolved spontaneously 1 month after discontinuation of the drug. Awareness of this complication could help to prevent unnecessary cholecystectomy.

Keyword

Gallstones; Ceftriaxone; Cholecystolithiasis

MeSH Terms

Ceftriaxone
Cholecystectomy
Cholecystitis
Cholecystolithiasis
Diverticulitis
Gallbladder
Gallstones
Humans
Pneumonia
Sewage
Young Adult
Ceftriaxone
Sewage

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonographic findings of the pre and post state of using ceftriaxone in the case 1 patient. (A) There is no evidence of gallbladder (GB) stone on the initial CT scan. (B) A huge GB stone is seen on the follow-up CT scan after 5 days of ceftriaxone usage. (C) A 2.5 × 3.5 cm GB stone with acoustic shadowing is noted on the ultrasonography. (D) The presumed GB stone has completely disappeared on the one month follow-up ultrasonography.

• 

  Fig. 2 The computed tomography (CT) scan and ultrasonographic findings of the pre and post states of using ceftriaxone in the case 2 patients. (A) There is no stone in the gallbladder (GB). (B) A GB stone is observed on the follow-up CT scan after 12 days of ceftriaxone usage. (C) GB sludge is seen on the ultrasonography. (D) The presumed GB stone has disappeared on the last follow-up CT scan.

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