Abstract

Background
Acute acalculous cholecystitis is a rare complication of Epstein-Barr virus mononucleosis and involves thickening of the gallbladder wall.
Material and Method
We describe the case of a 22-year-old woman with acute acalculous cholecystitis and pericholecystitis associated with Epstein-Barr virus primary infection. Surgical intervention was not performed, even though gallbladder perforation was suspected. The patient was treated conservatively with careful monitoring, including repeated ultrasonographic examinations.
Results

Conclusions
Epstein-Barr virus infections are usually self-limited, and surgical treatment of acute acalculous cholecystitis should only be considered when the ultrasonographic criteria persist on follow-up examinations or when they deteriorate. This is the first report of a severe course of acute acalculous cholecystitis with suspected gallbladder perforation associated with infectious mononucleosis.

Keywords: Infectious Mononucleosis - virology, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Gallbladder - ultrasonography, Cholecystitis, Acute - virology, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - virology, Acalculous Cholecystitis - virology