Gall bladder duplication: A rare biliary malformation.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Medicine
• Anatomical Pathology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Gallbladder duplication is an uncommon congenital anomaly with an incidence of 1 in 3800-4000 live births.
• It arises from aberrant development of the biliary system during embryogenesis.
• This condition often presents asymptomatically, posing diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

• A 35-year-old female presented with intermittent lower abdominal pain, initially suspected to be an adnexal cyst.
• Subsequent imaging, including CT and ultrasound, revealed two distinct gallbladder-like structures in the typical gallbladder location.
• Each structure possessed a cystic duct that joined the common bile duct, consistent with H-shaped gallbladder duplication.

Findings:

• The patient's primary symptoms were attributed to ovarian cysts, unrelated to the gallbladder anomaly.
• The gallbladder duplication was an incidental finding during the diagnostic workup.
• The duplicated gallbladders were anatomically normal, with functional cystic ducts connecting to the common bile duct.

Implications:

• This case emphasizes the critical need for radiologists and surgeons to be aware of gallbladder duplication during imaging and surgical planning.
• Undiagnosed gallbladder duplication can lead to intraoperative complications, particularly during procedures involving the biliary tree or adjacent organs.
• Increased awareness can improve patient safety and guide appropriate management strategies for this rare anomaly.