Summary

• Acute gallbladder inflammation caused by cystic duct obstruction.
• Major complication of cholelithiasis (i.e., gallstones); symptomatic gallstones are common before developing cholecystitis.
• RUQ pain lasting more than 3 to 6 hours and fever are common.
• RUQ tenderness, a distended RUQ mass, and positive Murphy's sign are key examination findings.
• Ultrasound is the definitive initial test; hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scanning and MRI may be helpful in cases where diagnosis is unclear.
• Treatment is early cholecystectomy.