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Concomitant functional gallbladder disorder and left-sided gallbladder: A case report
Jing-Rui Wu1, Chang-Cheng Wang2, Bo-Yang Li2
1Department of Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan 030024, Shanxi Province, China.
This report details the first case of functional gallbladder disorder (FGBD) in a patient with a left-sided gallbladder. Surgical removal of the ectopic gallbladder resolved the patient's symptoms, highlighting diagnostic and surgical considerations.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology
Background:
- Ectopic gallbladder, a rare anomaly (0.1%-0.7%), typically occurs without situs inversus totalis.
- Functional gallbladder disorder (FGBD) presents with biliary pain, normal imaging, and impaired gallbladder contraction.
- Concomitant FGBD and left-sided gallbladder represent a unique clinical challenge with no prior reported cases.
Observation:
- A 73-year-old woman presented with a 20-year history of epigastric pain.
- Diagnosis of left-sided gallbladder and FGBD was established via imaging and functional assessment.
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy confirmed an ectopic gallbladder in the left liver lobe.
Findings:
- Postoperative pathology showed no abnormalities.
- The patient experienced complete symptom resolution three months after surgery.
- This case represents the first documented instance of FGBD co-occurring with a left-sided gallbladder.
Implications:
- Preoperative imaging (MRI/CT) is essential for identifying gallbladder anatomical variations.
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a viable treatment option but necessitates meticulous surgical planning.
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare anatomical variations in diagnosing and managing gallbladder disorders.
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