Gallbladder duplication. A case report

Abstract

Gallbladder duplication, a rare congenital malformation resulting from embryonic dysgenesis, occurs in one out of every 4,000 births. A preoperative diagnosis is important to avoid complications during surgery and the need for additional procedures. Here, we present the case of a 24-year-old female patient who sought medical care due to biliary colic. An abdominal ultrasound revealed cholelithiasis and a bifid gallbladder. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography revealed complete gallbladder duplication with two separate cystic ducts, corresponding to Type E of Boyden’s classification. One gallbladder contained stones, and the other had abundant biliary sludge. The preoperative diagnosis made it possible to perform a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Intraoperatively, gallbladder duplication was identified, along with two separate cystic ducts that independently entered the common bile duct and left hepatic duct, respectively.