EP10.16: Duplication of fetal gallbladder

A 26-year-old primipara was referred for a routine screening ultrasound at 22 weeks. The ultrasound demonstrated gallbladder duplication with no other detectable anomalies. A follow-up ultrasound at 28 weeks showed normal growth and again demonstrated gallbladder duplication. The mother was delivered spontaneously at around 40 weeks and had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. The baby boy weighed over 3000 g with Apgars of 8 and 9 (1 and 5 minutes). The patient was admitted to normal nursery and discharged home 2 days post-delivery. A postnatal follow-up ultrasound confirmed gallbladder duplication after 50 days and absence of other anomalies. Several anomalies have been associated with gallbladder duplication including forgut malformations and aberrant hepatic and mesenteric vessels. Prior to ultrasound, gallbladder duplications often were diagnosed only at the time of surgery, but sonography has described several cases in children and adults. Differential diagnosis of gallbladder duplication are: gallbladder folds, choledochal cyst, gallbladder diverticulum, hepatic cyst, mesenteric cyst. Prognosis: the prognosis for gallbladder duplication is good. Although several authors report increased risk of acute and chronic cholecystitis, cholesterolosis, papilloma, carcinoma, biliary cirrhosis and torsion, other reports did not confirm this increased risk. Supporting information can be found in the online version of this abstract Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.