Gallbladder Agenesis: Two Cases Report and Brief Literature Review

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.