Agenesis of the Gallbladder in Monozygotic Twin Sisters

Case Rep Gastrointest Med. 2016:2016:1053138. doi: 10.1155/2016/1053138. Epub 2016 Jan 26.

Abstract

Agenesis of the gallbladder, a rare anomaly, is generally regarded as an organogenic failure. Several reports suggest that this congenital defect is inherited but that supposition remains controversial. We described agenesis of the gallbladder in identical twins. A 21-year-old female presented with a history of acute pain in the epigastrium and right hypochondrium. Various imaging modalities showed "gallbladder agenesis." Moreover, her older identical twin sister had also no visualized gallbladder in imaging modalities. This case report strongly suggested that agenesis of the gallbladder would be caused by a genetic abnormality.