Gallbladder : Polyarteritis Nodosa

Comments:
Vasculitides such as polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) can present as isolated gallbladder disease or as a component of systemic involvement in scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, or antiphospholipid syndrome. In rare instances, the isolated gallbladder involvement in PAN progresses to systemic disease, especially if the patient has autoantibodies such as rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibodies.

This image shows transmural inflammation of a medium-sized artery in a gallbladder that was removed for stones. There is fibrointimal proliferation with obliteration of the lumen. The features are consistent with PAN.