Case Report

Supra-hepatic gallbladder in cirrhosis presenting as a mimic of intra-abdominal fat necrosis: Diagnostic pitfalls and clinical implications

Siddhi Chawla, Binit Sureka, Mahaveer S. Rodha
South African Journal of Radiology | Vol 30, No 1 | a3484 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajr.v30i1.3484 | © 2026 Siddhi Chawla, Binit Sureka, Mahaveer S. Rodha | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 01 April 2026 | Published: 23 July 2026

About the author(s)

Siddhi Chawla, Department of Trauma and Emergency (Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India
Binit Sureka, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India
Mahaveer S. Rodha, Department of Trauma and Emergency (Surgery), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Jodhpur, India

Abstract

Supra-hepatic gallbladder is an exceptionally rare form of ectopic gallbladder. Its identification can be particularly challenging in patients with cirrhosis, where distortion of hepatic architecture obscures expected anatomical relationships. This report describes a case of supra-hepatic gallbladder in a patient with chronic liver disease, in which surrounding inflammatory oedema mimicked intra-abdominal fat necrosis, creating a significant diagnostic dilemma on imaging.
Contribution: This case underscores the importance of recognizing unusual gallbladder locations, understanding their embryological basis, and being aware of potential imaging pitfalls and complications associated with ectopic positioning.


Keywords

computed Tomography; suprahepatic gall bladder; anatomical variation; fat necrosis; ectopic gallbladder

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