Diagnosis and treatment of multiseptate gallbladder with recurrent abdominal pain

Multiseptate gallbladder presenting with biliary colic

Common diagnoses associated with right upper quadrant and epigastric pain include cholecystitis, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), biliary colic, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Multiseptate gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly that can cause symptoms of biliary colic, however it may present with atypical symptoms, which can prolong definitive diagnosis and treatment. We present a case of multiseptate gallbladder in a 21-year-old female who initially presented with GERD and IBS. After multiple failed treatment regimens for IBS, she ultimately was found to have multiseptate gallbladder and was successfully treated with cholecystectomy.

Multiseptate gallbladder coexisting with pancreaticobiliary maljunction treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy: report of a pediatric case

Background

A multiseptate gallbladder is a very rare congenital malformation in which the lumen is divided into variously sized multiseptal compartments. The pathogenesis and natural history of this disease remain uncertain. We herein describe a pediatric case of a multiseptate gallbladder with pancreaticobiliary maljunction (PBM), which was treated by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Case presentation

A 5-year-old girl was referred to our hospital, because a multiseptate gallbladder had been incidentally detected on abdominal ultrasonography when she presented for transient abdominal pain. Ultrasonography showed hyperechoic septa throughout the lumen of the gallbladder, giving it a honeycomb appearance. The atrophied gallbladder had weak or no contractility. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography performed to detect other coexisting biliary disorders revealed PBM without dilatation of the common bile duct. Although physical examination and laboratory tests revealed no abnormalities, we performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy to prevent cholecystitis and reduce the risk of cancer secondary to the PBM.

Conclusions

In recent pediatric case reports, the indication and timing of cholecystectomy has tended to be determined by the patient’s symptoms and the presence of biliary complications. In the present case, however, the combination of a multiseptate gallbladder and PBM may become problematic in the future. Surgical treatment without delay was appropriate even in this pediatric patient.

Multiseptate gallbladder: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Multiseptate gallbladder (MSG) is a rare congenital gallbladder anomaly. Between 1963 and June 2021, only 56 cases were reported. There is currently no treatment guideline for pediatric or adult cases of MSG.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 14-year-old woman visited our out-patient clinic in September 2020 for epigastric pain that last for 6 months. Honeycomb appearance of the gallbladder was noted under ultrasonography.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient was diagnosed with MSG. The diagnosis was confirmed through computed tomography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography.

INTERVENTIONS

Cholecystectomy was performed.

OUTCOMES

Epigastric pain showed limited improvement after the surgery. Since she was diagnosed with gastritis at the same time, a proton-pump inhibitor was prescribed. Epigastric pain was eventually resolved.

LESSONS

MSG cases can undergo cholecystectomy and show good recovery without complications. However, concomitant treatment may be required to resolve in the presence of other symptoms such as epigastric pain.

Understanding multiseptated gallbladder: A systematic analysis with a case report

Multiseptated gallbladder (MSG) (also known as “Honeycomb gallbladder”) is a rare condition that was first described by Knetsch in 1952, and there are around 150 cases described over the world. MSG has been described as a congenital anomaly in most of the cases and as acquired in a few. Moreover, the phenomenon was described with a variety of different symptoms and management. The aim of this article is to have better understanding of this condition and management approach. We are reporting a 4‐year‐old girl, who presented to Sidra Medicine, Qatar with MSG. We have also included 97 cases for review and analysis. The median age of presentation of the condition was 27 years but may present in neonates and in the elderly, while gender was not a risk factor. Abdominal pain is the most common presenting symptom, but it can present without symptoms. Certain congenital anomalies were detected in the pancreaticobiliary system in few patients with MSG. Medical treatment was reported in eight symptomatic patients, four of whom failed therapy. Cholecystectomy was performed in 40 patients, which resulted in resolutions of symptoms in 13 of them. Based on the available literature, congenital MSG is probably due to in‐pouching of gallbladder wall to its own cavity forming septa containing muscular fibers. MSG can be diagnosed solely via imaging, and ultrasound appears to be an effective and feasible mode of diagnosis. Medical treatment efficacy is not well‐known, but cholecystectomy has resulted in complete resolution in symptomatic patients.

Anatomic Variant of Liver, Gall Bladder and Inferior Vena Cava

The morphology and relations of liver, gall bladder and inferior vena cava are cardinal. Their anatomical variations may be a reason for the adverse surgical outcome. During routine anatomy dissection of an abdomen, we noticed a variant liver, gall bladder and inferior vena cava in a 63-year-old male cadaver. In the specimen, a retrohepatic segment of inferior vena cava was found to be intrahepatic. On dissection, it was observed that inferior vena cava was covered entirely by a liver tissue on its dorsal aspect. In the same specimen, the gall bladder had undulated inferior surface. On dissection of the gall bladder, numerous mucosal folds were present in the interior. A band of fibrous tissue was found, which was extending from the right side of the gall bladder to the falciform ligament. Hence, preoperative scanning of congenital variations of the liver, gall bladder and inferior vena cava may be compassionate in planning safe surgeries and interventional abdominal procedures.