Abstract
We report a rare case of childhood gallbladder torsion. A nine-year-old boy with severe upper abdominal pain and vomiting was admitted to our hospital. Ultrasonography and CT imagery revealed enlargement of the gallbladder in general, thickening of the wall and a tumor in the neck. Color Doppler sonography showed absence of blood flow within the gallbladder wall. Magnetic resonance cholangio-pancreatography (MRCP) showed that the gallbladder deviated internally, and the cystic duct was obscure. Gallbladder torsion was suspected and an emergency operation was performed. On laparotomy, the gallbladder was twisted 540° counterclockwise around the neck, and necrosis was present. A cholecystectomy was performed. No postoperative complications occurred and the patient was discharged on the 7th day after the operation. Torsion of gallbladder which occurs in childhood is rare. Only 29 children younger than 10 years have been reported in Japan. Most previous reports have described that making a preoperative diagnosis is difficult. In this case, the correct diagnosis was made preoperatively. MRCP and Color Doppler sonography, as well as US and CT scan, were particularly beneficial.
