Introduction:

The less common congenital abnormality of the biliary tract corresponds to gallbladder agenesis, affecting between 0.007% and 0.09% of patients undergoing cholecystectomy. The purpose of this article is to present a clinical case diagnosed during the surgical procedure, after being diagnosed with cholecystolithiasis by ultrasonogram.

Clinical case:

A 37-year-old female consulted with abdominal pain that irradiated to the right scapula. The gallbladder ultrasound reported type l cholecystolithiasis. An open cholecystectomy was programmed. The gallbladder could not be identified and the procedure was finished in order to avoid harming the biliary duct. A cholangiopancreatography was requested in the postoperative, confirming the diagnosis of gallbladder agenesis.

Discussion:

A preoperative gallbladder agenesis diagnosis has never been reported, thus this is a great challenge to the radiologist as well as a great concern to the surgeon when performing a cholecystectomy.

Conclusions:

This is the less common abnormality of the biliary tract, very few cases have been reported worldwide; the diagnosis is made in the intraoperative period due to incorrect diagnostic impressions by the ultrasound. The MRCP is a complementary study that is useful when there is a doubtful ultrasonogram, avoiding unnecessary surgeries and reducing the risk of complications.