Gallbladder agenesis: An accidental finding during laparotomy for hepatic tumor

Area of Science:

• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Congenital Anomalies
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Biliary system anomalies are common, with gallbladder agenesis being a rare occurrence.
• Gallbladder agenesis is often asymptomatic, leading to incidental diagnosis during unrelated surgical procedures or autopsy.
• This anomaly can present alone or in conjunction with other vascular, hepatic, or gastrointestinal abnormalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of incidentally discovered gallbladder agenesis during liver tumor resection.
• To discuss the implications of gallbladder agenesis in surgical planning and management.
• To emphasize the importance of thorough intraoperative assessment for biliary anomalies.

Main Methods:

• A case presentation of an elderly male with a segment VI liver tumor.
• Surgical resection of the liver tumor.
• Intraoperative discovery of gallbladder agenesis and a slightly dilated common bile duct.

Main Results:

• Successful resection of the liver tumor.
• Final diagnosis of well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Identification of concomitant gallbladder agenesis.

Conclusions:

• Thorough intraoperative exploration for the gallbladder is crucial before diagnosing agenesis.
• Laparoscopic procedures do not require conversion if adequate visualization and exploration are performed.
• Postoperative MRCP (Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography) aids in defining biliary anatomy for accurate surgical decision-making.