Case report: malignant haemobilia detected in the gallbladder--retrograde cholangiographic findings

Haemobilia caused by gallbladder cancer is a rare condition and cholangiography rarely detects gallbladder haemorrhage because cancer cells or blood clots obstruct the cystic duct. We describe a patient with haemobilia caused by gallbladder cancer, in whom retrograde cholangiography showed a cast-like filling defect in the common bile duct and, in addition, several string-like defects in the gallbladder. The string-like defects appeared to be streams of clotted blood flowing towards the common bile duct in this case of relatively minor haemorrhage.