A Case Report of Congenital Absence of the Gallbladder

Hiroshi Tomochika, Kentetsu Yoshii, Jun Nakagawa, Hitoshi Harada*

Department of Surgery and Department of Internal Medicine*, Takahashi Central Hospital

A 72-year-old man was admitted because of right hypochondralgia. Urtrasonography and computed tomography failed to detect a gallbladder. The gallbladder and the cystic duct were not visualized by drip infusion cholangiography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiography. These findings of graphic studies suggest the possibility of congenital absence of the gallbladder and cystic duct. At laparotomy, the abdomen was carefully explored. The liver was normal, but the gallbladder and cystic duct were congenitally absent. The common bile duct was slightly dilated. No other abnormalities were found. He had slight right hypochondralgia after the operation. Now he is being followed up carefully.

Key words
congenital absence of the gallbladder, anomalies of the biliary tract

Reprint requests
Hiroshi Tomochika Department of Surgery, Takahashi Central Hospital
53 Minamimachi, Takahashi, 716JAPAN

Accepted
April 11, 1990

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