x x

INFECTIOUS DISEASE

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IMMUNOLOGY

BACTERIOLOGY

VIROLOGY

PARASITOLOGY

MYCOLOGY

CONTRIBUTORS

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Gastro Intestinal Infections
 

Dr Patsy Lill
Professor Emerita
University of South Carolina School of Medicine

Bile Duct Obstruction


A 57-year-old woman presented with complaints of fever, chills, and RUQ pain, tachycardia, jaundice, and pruritis. She had a history of recurrent biliary colic but her gallstones had passed without intervention in the past. Her white count was 14.3 x 103/mm3. Her bilirubin was elevated as was her alkaline phosphatase. AST and ALT were mildly elevated and there was mild hepatomegaly. Ultrasound showed a dilated common bile duct and a stone in the common bile duct. Her urinalysis was normal. Blood cultures were done and grew Klebsiella. Meanwhile, broadspectrum antibiotic therapy was begun and was changed when the results of the blood cultures were obtained. She failed to respond to antibiotic therapy and an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was done. The presence of a stone lodged in the common bile duct and partially obstructing the bile duct was confirmed and the stone was removed. The patient continued to decline, became septic, and died. The images below are of her liver.
 

The MOST likely proximal cause of death is:

1. Sclerosing cholangitis
2. Cholangitis
3. Cholecystitis
4. Hepatitis
 

ANSWER

 
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Pathology questions by Dr Patsy Lill