Which pathology is characterized by lipid deposits in the gallbladder walls and is also known as "strawberry gallbladder"?

Cholesterolosis is a condition associated with the accumulation of lipid deposits within the gallbladder wall, giving it the distinct appearance often described as “strawberry gallbladder.” This term arises due to the yellowish cholesterol deposits that can be seen against the red background of the gallbladder mucosa, resembling the appearance of a strawberry.

In this pathology, the presence of these lipid deposits can alter the gallbladder's function and is most commonly identified during imaging studies such as an ultrasound. On ultrasound, cholesterolosis typically appears as a diffuse thickening of the gallbladder wall with associated echogenic foci, which represent the cholesterol deposits.

Understanding this condition is important in differential diagnosis because it can mimic other gallbladder diseases but does not usually denote a malignant process. This distinguishes it from conditions like cholecystitis, which involves inflammation, or cholangitis, which pertains to infection of the biliary duct. Adenomyomatosis, while also related to gallbladder anatomy, involves hyperplastic changes rather than lipid deposits. Thus, recognizing cholesterolosis and its characteristics is vital in the diagnosis and management of gallbladder pathologies.