title: [Absence/disappearance of gallbladder in a patient diagnosed with cholelithiasis].
abstract: We report the case of a patient with preoperatively demonstrated cholecystitis due to cholelithiasis but with no presence of gallbladder at laparoscopy or on conversion to open surgery. Gallbladder ectopy was ruled out and the possibility of gallbladder agenesia was discussed. However, four preoperative ultrasound scans performed within a protocol of treatment with octreotide, in the setting of acute cholecystitis, ruled out this possibility. We discuss the possibility of gallbladder destruction and digestion after a severe inflammatory process, as well as Frey's criteria for gallbladder agenesia. We believe that this is a case of complete gallbladder lysis due to an inflammatory process.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cirugía General B, Hospital de Cruces, Barakaldo, Vizcaya, España.
authors.forename: Aitor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de la Quintana-Basarrate
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Díaz-Aguirregoitia
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamikiz-Velasco
authors.forename: Andrés
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valdivieso-López
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perdigo-Bilbao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications*; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology*; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male