A phantom gallbladder on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Various complications have been related to laparoscopic cholecystectomy but most occur shortly after the procedure.In this report,we present a case with very late complications in which an abscess developed within the gallbladder fossa 6 years after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.The abscess resolved after treatment with CT-guided extrahepatic aspiration.However,4 years later,an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) performed for choledocholithiasis demonstrated a"gallbladder"which communicated with the common bile duct via a patent cystic duct.This unique case indicates that a cystic duct stump may communicate with the gallbladder fossa many years following cholecystectomy.