title: A rare gallbladder ciliated foregut cyst in chronic cholecystitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ciliated foregut cysts (CFC) are rare anomalies due to aberrant embryological development. It is thought to arise from a remnant of the embryologic foregut. The solitary cysts are characterised by ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium. They are usually located above the diaphragm but they can also arise in relation to the liver, gallbladder and pancreas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the first ciliated foregut cyst of the gallbladder case reported in Australia, and the ninth known case to be reported worldwide. A 61-year-old male with chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis underwent an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy and intraoperative cholangiogram. Intraoperatively, 'out-pouching' was noted on the lateral border of the gallbladder. Microscopically the histopathology showed that the cyst was lined by ciliated columnar epithelium the characteristic feature of a ciliated foregut cyst.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To date only 8 cases of these ciliated foregut cysts in the gallbladder have been reported in literature. Our case is the first reported in Australia. It is unique in that the patient was an older male as opposed to most other previous cases, which were younger females. These cysts can be difficult to distinguish from neoplasms clinically and radiographically. Reports have shown that these cysts may become dysplastic and is best excised when discovered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the rarity of CFCs and their potential to mimic malignancy, we propose awareness and understanding of the management for them-being excision and hopefully not cause any confusion or devastatingly allow it to become malignant.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: meejinl@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mee-Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Winny
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Varikatthas
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Ghiyath
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alsnih
keywords: Ciliated; Cysts; Foregut; Gallbladder; General surgery; Surgery