Symptomatic cholelithiasis in an ectopic retrocolic retroduodenal subhepatic duplicated gallbladder

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Anatomy
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Gallbladder duplication is a rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system.
• It can lead to diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties due to its varied presentations.

Observation:

• A 49-year-old male with biliary colic symptoms initially had imaging that failed to locate the gallbladder.
• An initial surgery identified and cauterized a rudimentary gallbladder, but symptoms continued.

Findings:

• Advanced imaging, including magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, revealed gallbladder duplication (ductular type).
• The first gallbladder's cystic duct joined the common hepatic duct high up; the second, retroplaced gallbladder's cystic duct joined the common bile duct mid-portion.

Implications:

• Accurate diagnosis of gallbladder duplication requires a deep understanding of its variants and meticulous interpretation of modern imaging modalities.
• Close collaboration between surgeons and radiologists is crucial for effective patient management.