Israel
Double gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly with an incidence of one in 1:4000 patients. Two main types of duplications are bilobed gallbladder and true duplication, with two different cystic ducts. (Gallbladder, duplication ) The true duplication is more common and occurs due to bifurcation of gallbladder primordium during the 5th and early 6th week of embryonic life.
The double gallbladders after birth do not present with specific symptoms and the incidence of disease in this type of gallbladder is similar to the normal variant.
Case report
A 23-year-old G1P0 was referred for a routine screening ultrasound at 23 weeks. The ultrasound demonstrated double fetal gallbladder. The fetus was two weeks smaller than the age calculated by the last menstrual period. A follow-up ultrasound at 28 and 33 weeks also showed smaller biometric parameters (2-3 weeks) and the double gallbladder with no other associated anomalies. Toxoplasma, Varicella, Rubella, and fragile X tests were normal. The patient was referred to genetic consultation and did an amniocentesis (normal male karyotype). Nuchal translucency at 12 weeks and fetal echocardiography were normal.
In our differential diagnostic contemplation we were thinking about mesenteric cyst, choledochal cyst, hepatic cyst, and gallbladder duplication. The final diagnosis was the gallbladder duplication.
Images 1, 2: Oblique scans showing the duplication of the gallbladder.