title: Agenesis of the right liver: a difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: Congenital agenesis of the right liver (ARL) is a rare condition that is generally asymptomatic. Congenital anomalies of the liver are generally diagnosed with current cross-sectional imaging modalities such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before surgery. However, discovery of a congenital anomaly of the liver only at time of surgery remains a possibility. Herein reported is the case of a 68-year-old woman undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallbladder stones as diagnosed on preoperative ultrasounds. Upon laparoscopic exploration of the upper abdomen, the right liver was not found; the gallbladder was located in the right subdiaphragmatic region posterior to the medial segment of the liver. A posterolateral interposition of the hepatic flexure of the colon was also found. Cholecystectomy was completed under laparoscopy. A postoperative MRI confirmed right liver agenesis. We discuss the technical difficulties of performing a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the case of ARL and the advantages of a laparoscopic approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver Transplantation, Gastrointestinal and Laparoscopic Surgery, Archet 2 Hospital, Nice, France. antionio_iannelli@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iannelli
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Facchiano
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fabiani
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sejor
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bernard
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Niezar
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gugenheim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000002:abnormalities*