Histological and immunohistochemical study of an unusual type of gallbladder duplication

Abstract

Gallbladder duplication is a rare congenital anomaly, with an incidence of 1 in 3,800 autopsies. The correct diagnosis and treatment of this type of entity is important in clinical practice, because it may cause some clinical and surgical problems. In this report, we present the clinical case of a 28-year-old female with abdominal pain. Ultrasound of the upper abdomen showed a distended gallbladder with the presence of a septum that could suggest a congenital anomaly of the extrahepatic biliary system. During surgery, a distended and inflamed gallbladder with a lithiasis was found. In addition, a complete septum and double cystic duct were observed. The gross and histopathological evaluation of the surgical specimen allowed us to confirm the diagnosis of a Y- shaped type gallbladder duplication according to Boyden’s classification. In conclusion, in presence of an atypical imaging of the gallbladder, diagnosis of this group of congenital anomalies should be considered in order to adequately plan surgical intervention if necessary.