Radiographic Findings Concerning for Gangrenous Cholecystitis in an Asymptomatic Elderly Patient: A Case for Conservative Management

Gallbladder necrosis is a rare but life-threatening complication of acute cholecystitis, likely resulting from chronic blood flow, inflammation, and intraluminal pressure.It most commonly occurs in elderly or critically ill patients with significant comorbidities and is often underreported due to its nonspecific presentation.This diagnosis is usually associated with right upper quadrant pain, leukocytosis, and fever.Here, we present an 80-year-old woman with metastatic lung cancer, COPD, and an extensive surgical and oncologic history who was incidentally found to have radiographic findings concerning for gangrenous cholecystitis but remained asymptomatic.Despite these findings, the patient remained clinically stable with improving leukocytosis during her inpatient course and was managed conservatively without surgical intervention.Post-discharge follow-up was unavailable.