Appearance of Disease:

This specimen removed at autopsy consists of a thickened, fibrotic gallbladder (indicative of chronic inflammation), with a gallstone (calculus) impacted in the outlet of the gallbladder (cystic duct). This obstruction to the outflow of bile has resulted in acute inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), with secondary bacterial infection causing the organ to fill with pus (empyema). Peritoneal fat (omentum) has become adherent to the gallbladder, and is also acutely inflamed.