A case of intrahepatic ectopic gallbladder with atrophic cholecystitis

A 49-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital in June 2018 due to upper abdominal pain for 8 h. The patient was hospitalized in a local hospital 3 months ago for upper abdominal pain and was diagnosed as cholecystolithiasis and cholecystitis. After infusion treatment, the symptoms were improved and the patient was discharged. The patient suffered from persistent pain in the upper abdomen after eating greasy breakfast 8 h ago, accompanied by a pain in the right back and shoulder without nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms. After admission, the patient was diagnosed as cholecystolithiasis and atrophic cholecystitis by abdominal CT, color Doppler ultrasonography, and other examinations. During laparoscopic cholecystectomy, no gallbladder was found in the normal gallbladder position. We found an ectopic atrophic gallbladder in the liver via conversion laparotomy and intraoperative color Doppler ultrasonography. Liver tissue was cut above the gallbladder shadow. The gallbladder was separated and completely removed. No bile duct injury occurred during surgery, and no serious consequences such as postoperative bile leaks occurred. The patient recovered well after surgery.