Ciliated foregut cyst of the gallbladder: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

A case is presented of a ciliated cyst of the gallbladder in a 36-year-old Korean woman which was incidentally found on ultrasonographic study. A cystic mass measuring 1.5 x 1 x 1 cm was found in the fundus of the gallbladder. The cyst was unilocular and intramural without communication to the lumen. Microscopically, the cyst wall was lined by a single layer of pseudostratified, ciliated, columnar epithelium and goblet cells with underlying smooth muscle layers. This was considered to be the cyst arising from the embryonic foregut and showing differentiation toward respiratory structures. The term 'ciliated foregut cyst of the gallbladder' is suggested here.