Gallbladder agenesis: A case report and brief review

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Anatomy
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Gallbladder agenesis and cystic duct agenesis are rare congenital anomalies of the biliary system.
• Incidence rates range from 0.007% to 0.027%, with potential complications including common duct stones.

Observation:

• A patient presented with symptoms mimicking biliary colic.
• Abdominal ultrasonography revealed hyperechoic material in the gallbladder fossa, leading to a planned laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
• Laparoscopy failed to identify the gallbladder or cystic duct, prompting a search for ectopic sites.

Findings:

• Gallbladder agenesis was suspected intraoperatively and confirmed postoperatively via magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.
• The surgical procedure was aborted without further dissection due to the suspected agenesis.
• This case underscores the diagnostic and management difficulties associated with gallbladder agenesis.

Implications:

• Accurate preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder agenesis is crucial to avoid unnecessary surgical interventions.
• Understanding this rare anomaly aids in refining surgical approaches and patient management strategies.
• Further literature review is warranted to improve diagnostic accuracy and surgical outcomes for biliary system anomalies.