Agenesis of the gallbladder--an inherited defect?

Agenesis of the gallbladder is a rare anomaly believed to be an organogenetic failure. This is the third instance of familial agenesis of the gallbladder reported in the literature. The diagnosis of agenesis of the gallbladder can only be made during exploratory celiotomy and must be confirmed by an intraoperative needle cholecystogram. This congenital anomaly should be suspected when oral cholecystography shows a nonvisualizing gallbladder in relatives of any patient with proven agenesis of the gallbladder.