Abstract
Three cases of porcellein gallbladder, one of which was associated with a gallbladder cancer, are described.
To investigate the pathogenesis of porcellein gallbladder, microangiography of the excised cystic artery was performed and the results were compared to those of chronic cholecystitis without calcification. In addition the components of the gallbladder wall was analysed to compare with those of artery wall of arteriosclerosis with calcification. As a result, microangiography revealed almost disappeared fine vascular network in the porcellein gallbladder compared to gallbladder without calcification. In the component analysis, almost similar picture was obtained in both calcified gallbladder and calcified arterial wall. Hyaline degeneration was found at the small vessels of porcellein galbladder wall microscopically. From these findings, it is inferred that calcified lesions characteristic of porcellein gallbladder might result from that reduced blood supply to the gallbladder wall is added to chronic inflammation associating with obstruction of the cystic duct.
