Percutaneous cholecystostomy of an ectopic gallbladder

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Hepatology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Sclerosing cholangitis is a chronic liver disease characterized by progressive destruction and fibrosis of the bile ducts.
• A retrohepatic gallbladder is a rare anatomical variant where the gallbladder is situated posterior to the liver.
• Management of biliary complications in patients with sclerosing cholangitis often requires interventional radiology procedures.

Observation:

• A patient with sclerosing cholangitis presented with complications necessitating gallbladder drainage.
• Percutaneous cholecystostomy was performed to access and drain a gallbladder located in a retrohepatic position.
• This anatomical anomaly posed unique challenges for the intervention.

Findings:

• Correlative imaging, including computed tomography (CT), ultrasound (US), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), and sulfur colloid liver scan, was utilized.
• These imaging modalities provided detailed visualization of the retrohepatic gallbladder and surrounding structures.
• The successful drainage confirmed the feasibility of percutaneous intervention in this rare anomaly.

Implications:

• This case demonstrates the utility of percutaneous cholecystostomy for managing gallbladder issues in patients with sclerosing cholangitis and rare anomalies.
• Advanced imaging techniques are crucial for diagnosing and planning interventions for unusual biliary tract anatomy.
• The findings contribute to the understanding of managing complex hepatobiliary conditions requiring interventional approaches.