GALLBLADDER DUPLICATION WITH CYSTIC DUCT DRAINING DIRECTLY INTO THE WIRSUNG DUCT: A CASE REPORT

Gallbladder duplication is a rare congenital variant. It is crucial for surgeons to recognize gallbladder variations in patients undergoing cholecystectomy to minimize complications and avoid the need for additional surgeries. We present the case of a 27-year-old female patient with gallbladder duplication and an anomalous cystic duct draining directly into the main pancreatic duct (Wirsung duct), who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute biliary pancreatitis. Gallbladder duplication is usually asymptomatic and is often discovered incidentally. Although gallbladder duplication itself is not an indication for surgery, detailed preoperative radiological evaluation and meticulous intraoperative dissection are essential when surgical intervention is planned because anatomical variations may increase the risk of operative complications. This case highlights the importance of preoperative imaging in identifying biliary anomalies, demonstrates the surgical management of such exceptional variations, and underscores their implications for existing embryological classification systems.