Affiliation(s)
1. Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ibn Tofail Hospital, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Cadi Ayad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
2. Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ibn Tofail Hospital, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Cadi Ayad University, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
ABSTRACT
Agenesis of the gallbladder
and the cystic duct is one of the rarest congenital abnormalities of the biliary
system. Almost half of the patients develop common duct stones and 23% of them manifest
signs and symptoms that mimic biliary colic. We present two cases of gallbladder
agenesis. The first case is of a woman presenting symptoms of biliary colic. Laparoscopy
failed to reveal either gallbladder or cystic duct. The procedure was continued
to further search for ectopic sites of gallbladder. A gallbladder agenesis was suspected
and then confirmed via post-operative magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography,
who also objectified a cystic dilatation and septum of the main bile duct. The second
case is of a woman with symptoms of biliary colic. A first abdominal ultrasonography
objectified a “scleroatrophic” gallbladder; on the second ultrasonography a gallbladder
agenesis was suspected and later confirmed via magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography.
We report through these cases our experience with regard to the challenges associated
with the diagnosis and management, and a brief review of the literature of this
rare pathology.
KEYWORDS
Gallbladder agenesis, congenital
biliary tract abnormalities, magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography.
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