Cholecystocolonic fistula: A rare complication of calculous cholecystitis with pre-operative diagnosis and surgical management

Abstract

Cholecystocolonic fistula (CCF) is a rare complication of chronic gallstone disease, often diagnosed intraoperatively due to non-specific clinical features and limited radiological sensitivity. We report the case of a 76-year-old female with dyspepsia, low-grade fever, and vomiting, in whom contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated a fistulous tract between the gallbladder and hepatic flexure. Laparotomy with cholecystectomy and segmental colectomy was performed, and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis. The postoperative course was uneventful. This case underscores the diagnostic challenges of CCF, the need for high clinical suspicion, and the importance of timely surgical intervention to prevent complications such as perforation and sepsis.