A quick, fun pathology for your Monday! Todayโs path rounds are on ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
The ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ is a big sac hanging out next to the liver, which stores ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐. Bile is a product of the liver that contains digestive enzymes to break down fats. Usually the gall bladder is only one โlobeโ or sac, but in some cases there can be multiple!
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
We see this in cats! A recent study showed that 14% of cats have bilobed gall bladders. Neat ๐ป
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Having multiple lobes is thought to be a developmental anomaly, meaning that it occurs when the liver is forming. The reason for the anomaly occurring is unknown.
๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ?
In the vast majority of cases, a multilobed gall bladder is an ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ , meaning we accidentally come across it while weโre looking for something else. In some cases, the multilobed gall bladder can develop gall stones or inflammation.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
This anomaly can be diagnosed using ultrasound, usually while the cat is being examined for another issue. It can also be seen at necropsy.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1-3) Some bilobed gall bladders! One of the cases has a ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐ง๐จ๐ฆ๐ (malignant tumour of the gall bladder) in one lobe, with a normal second lobe.
4) A rare trilobed gall bladder!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Maxie, G. Jubb, Kennedy and Palmerโs Pathology of Domestic Animals, Volume 2. Sixth Edition.
Spain HN, Penninck DG, Thelen M. Ultrasonographic prevalence and proposed morphologic classification of bilobed gallbladder in cats. J Feline Med Surg 2021.
Photos 1-2 ยฉ Noahโs Arkive contributor Rech, Domingo licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photos 3-4 ยฉ University of Calgary Diagnostic Services Unit.
