Intrahepatic gallbladder duplication mimicking a hepatic cyst: A case report

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Medicine
• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Gallbladder duplication is an uncommon congenital anomaly of the biliary system.
• Misdiagnosis can lead to significant morbidity, including unnecessary surgical interventions like liver resections.
• Accurate diagnostic imaging is essential for appropriate patient management.

Observation:

• A case of intrahepatic gallbladder duplication was incidentally discovered.
• The duplicate gallbladder contained calculi (stones).
• The incidental finding occurred during a Focused Assessment Sonography for Trauma (FAST) examination following blunt abdominal trauma.

Findings:

• The study highlights the importance of recognizing rare biliary anomalies like gallbladder duplication.
• Diagnostic imaging, particularly ultrasound, can identify this anomaly.
• The presence of calculi within the duplicate gallbladder was noted.

Implications:

• Accurate diagnosis of gallbladder duplication prevents misdiagnosis of other conditions, such as cystic intraductal papillary neoplasm of the bile duct.
• Appropriate imaging facilitates correct diagnosis, avoiding unwarranted surgeries and associated complications.
• This case underscores the utility of ultrasound in detecting incidental biliary anomalies during trauma evaluations.