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Article Category: Other
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Online Publication Date: 01 Jan 2014

Duplicated Gallbladder

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Page Range: 77 – 78
DOI: 10.9738/INTSURG-D-13-00036.1
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Abstract

Duplication of the gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system with the incidence of 1 in 3800. A 38-year-old woman visited our patient clinic for evaluation of wall thickening of the gallbladder, detected by abdominal ultrasonography during a regular medical checkup. Drip infusion cholecystocholangiography–computed tomography revealed Y-shaped duplicated gallbladders.

Duplicated gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly, important in clinical practice as it may cause some clinical, surgical, and diagnostic problems.1 We herein report a successfully diagnosed case of duplicated gallbladder using drip infusion cholecystocholangiography–computed tomography (DIC-CT).

Case Report

A 38-year-old woman visited our patient clinic for evaluation of wall thickening of the gallbladder, detected by abdominal ultrasonography during a regular medical checkup. The patient was asymptomatic and had no significant past medical history including hospitalization. On physical examination, the abdomen was flat, and the gallbladder was not palpable. Laboratory data were unremarkable. DIC-CT revealed Y-shaped duplicated gallbladders with adenomyomatosis, each with a cystic duct.2 The 2 cystic ducts joined to form a common cystic duct before entering the common bile duct (Fig. 1). Enhanced CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography revealed no findings to suggest malignancy. The patient is followed up using ultrasonography every year.

Fig. 1. DIC-CT revealed Y-shaped duplicated gallbladders. Two cystic ducts joined to form a common cystic duct before entering the common bile duct (arrow).Fig. 1. DIC-CT revealed Y-shaped duplicated gallbladders. Two cystic ducts joined to form a common cystic duct before entering the common bile duct (arrow).Fig. 1. DIC-CT revealed Y-shaped duplicated gallbladders. Two cystic ducts joined to form a common cystic duct before entering the common bile duct (arrow).
Fig. 1 DIC-CT revealed Y-shaped duplicated gallbladders. Two cystic ducts joined to form a common cystic duct before entering the common bile duct (arrow).

Citation: International Surgery 99, 1; 10.9738/INTSURG-D-13-00036.1

Discussion

Duplication of the gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system with the incidence of 1 in 3800.1 There is no sex predominance, and most cases are found in adults, incidental by during cholecystectomy or at autopsy.3 Recent improvements of technique, such as magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, have enabled diagnosis of this anomaly.4,5 Duplicated gallbladder may be discovered incidentally or when symptoms associated with cholelithiasis and cholecystitis occur. Less common pathologies in duplicated gallbladders include perforation, adenocarcinoma, and adenomyomatosis.2 The management of duplicated gallbladder is similar to that of other gallbladder disease. Because there is no evidence of increased risk,6 surgery is not indicated for duplicated gallbladders when discovered incidentally without disease in both gallbladders. However, if one or both gallbladders cause symptoms, cholecystectomy should be done for both gallbladders.2,7 In conclusion, duplicated gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly, which requires accurate imaging and diagnosis for appropriate management.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 1

DIC-CT revealed Y-shaped duplicated gallbladders. Two cystic ducts joined to form a common cystic duct before entering the common bile duct (arrow).


Contributor Notes

Reprint requests: Hiroaki Shiba, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8, Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan. Tel.: 81 3 3433 1111 (ext. 3401); Fax: 81 3 5472 4140; E-mail: hs0817@jikei.ac.jp
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