[Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the wall of the gallbladder: a case report and review of the literature]

Abstract

A case of heterotopic gastric mucosa (pyloric gland) in the wall of the gallbladder was reported. A 58 year-old woman was admitted with a history of sudden attack of hypochondralgia radiating to the back, but she had no fever and jaundice. Ultrasonography demonstrated high echo at the neck and body of the gallbladder. Cholecystectomy was performed with a diagnosis of the gallbladder tumor containing gall stone. The surgical specimen revealed a 15 X 14 X 8mm subserosal tumor in the body and chronic cholecystitis, but showed no metaplastic differentiation in the mucosa. The cause was considered to be congenital. Heterotopic tissue in the wall of the gallbladder was very rare. In the literature, there were 29 cases of gastric mucosa and 27 cases of pancreatic tissue. The mean age of incidence were 31.9 and 42.0 year-old, respectively. There is no sex difference. The lesion was located in the cystic duct and the neck of the gallbladder in half the patients. Cholelithiasis and/or cholecystitis was complicated in many cases, and it might be associated with heterotopic tissue whereas the etiology is unknown.