What is the term for the calcification of the wall of the gallbladder?

The term "porcelain gallbladder" refers specifically to the calcification of the gallbladder wall. This condition usually occurs due to chronic inflammation, typically from longstanding cholecystitis. The calcification results in a hardened, often calcified appearance of the gallbladder wall, which can be seen on imaging studies such as ultrasound or CT scans.

Porcelain gallbladder is clinically significant because it has been associated with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer, making it important for healthcare providers to recognize this condition. The presence of a porcelain gallbladder may lead to surgical intervention, even in asymptomatic patients, to prevent the potential complications associated with gallbladder carcinoma.

In contrast, cholecystitis refers to inflammation of the gallbladder, adenomyomatosis is a benign condition characterized by the hyperplastic changes of the gallbladder wall, and biliary sludge is a mixture of microscopic particles and liquid found in the bile, indicative of altered bile composition but not specifically related to wall calcification.