Gallbladder Duplication and Biliary Anomalies Management
Summary
Gallbladder duplication represents a rare congenital variation of the biliary tract, occurring in roughly one in 3 000 to 4 000 individuals. These anomalies often coexist with variant cystic ducts and vascular patterns, increasing the risk of bile duct injury during cholecystectomy. Precise preoperative characterisation—using ultrasonography, computed tomography and, most critically, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)—underpins surgical planning. A standardised classification, rooted in Dr Boyden’s work, guides the description of H-type and Y-type duplications and informs operative strategy. Intraoperative cholangiography remains a crucial adjunct to confirm ductal anatomy and avert inadvertent injury. Minimally invasive techniques, from conventional laparoscopy to single-incision approaches, have been safely applied to duplicated systems, provided that both gallbladders and all associated ducts are identified and excised. Multidisciplinary collaboration between radiologists and hepatopancreatobiliary surgeons is essential to optimise patient outcomes and to manage unexpected findings that may otherwise lead to repeat operations or biliary complications.
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Gallbladder Duplication and Biliary Anomalies Management publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in gallbladder duplication and biliary anomalies management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Gallbladder duplication: A congenital condition in which two gallbladders develop, often with separate cystic ducts.
Boyden classification: A system categorising gallbladder duplications into H-type, Y-type and other variants based on ductal anatomy.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP): A non-invasive MRI technique that visualises the biliary and pancreatic ducts in detail.
Intraoperative cholangiography: Real-time radiographic imaging of the biliary tree performed during surgery to confirm ductal structures.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove one or more gallbladders through small abdominal incisions.
References
- Duplication of the Gallbladder as an Operative Surprise: A Case Report with Review of the Literature. Case Reports in Surgery (2021).
- Single Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Gallbladder Duplication. Case Reports in Surgery (2015).
- Imaging in Double Gall Bladder with Acute Cholecystitis—A Rare Entity. Surgical Science (2014).
- A case of H-type double gallbladder anomaly: A case report. Medicine (2024).
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