Common Pathology With Atypical Presentation: Acute Cholangitis

Abstract

Acute cholangitis is a well-known biliary tree pathology most often encountered in patients with gallstone disease. When left untreated, acute cholangitis can lead to severe complications, including death. Therefore, identifying and properly treating acute cholangitis is crucial to avoiding such complications. This paper describes an 84-year-old female patient with acute cholangitis who presented with atypical symptoms of chest pain and cough. The patient was successfully treated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), antibiotics, and ursodeoxycholic acid. We focus on this patient's unique presentation to highlight the low incidence of Charcot's triad and Reynold's pentad in elderly patients and to emphasize the importance of formulating a broad differential in patients with non-specific symptoms.