[Isolated gallbladder agenesis mimicking biliary colic: A difficult preoperative diagnosis]

Isolated gallbladder agenesis is a very rare and unrecognized congenital anomaly. Patients are usually asymptomatic, but 23% present with symptoms suggestive of biliary colic. Ultrasound investigation often fails to diagnose this malformation, misinterpreted as scleroatrophic gallbladder, leading to unnecessary and potentially dangerous surgery. We report on a case of a 9-year-old child who complained of biliary colic. Ultrasound showed a possible scleroatrophic gallbladder. This diagnosis was in doubt, however, because the patient had no previous history of cholecystitis. Finally, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography failed to show any gallbladder. The absence of the visualization of the gallbladder in a context of right upper quadrant pain should suggest gallbladder agenesis. Pain can be explained by the so-called postcholecystectomy syndrome.