Case Report: Retained gallstone migrating to the chest wall after cholecystectomy presenting as chronic abscess, sinus tract, and inflammatory pseudotumor - Takeaways - MDSpire

Case Study: Migration of a Retained Gallstone to the Chest Wall Following Cholecystectomy Resulting in Chronic Abscess, Sinus Tract, and Inflammatory Pseudotumor

  • By

  • Weimin Li

  • Yi Zhao

  • Wenting Zhou

  • Zhigang Xiu

  • Yi Luo

  • Yubo Kan

  • July 21, 2026

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  • 1

    Gallbladder perforation and stone spillage during laparoscopic cholecystectomy occur in up to 40% and 6%-10% of cases, respectively.

  • 2

    A 61-year-old woman developed a chronic abscess and sinus tract in the chest wall due to a retained gallstone migrating post-cholecystectomy.

  • 3

    Imaging revealed a soft tissue mass with ring-like hyperdensity and rib erosion, raising suspicion for malignancy.

  • 4

    Surgical excision of the chest wall mass revealed a gallstone embedded in purulent material, consistent with inflammatory pseudotumor.

  • 5

    The patient recovered uneventfully and remained asymptomatic at 6-month follow-up after complete surgical excision.

Original Source(s)

Case Report: Retained gallstone migrating to the chest wall after cholecystectomy presenting as chronic abscess, sinus tract, and inflammatory pseudotumor

  • by Weimin Li, Yi Zhao, Wenting Zhou, Zhigang Xiu, Yi Luo, Yubo Kan

  • July 21, 2026

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