Which gallbladder anomaly is characterized by a mid-section narrowing with no pathological significance?

Which gallbladder anomaly is characterized by a mid-section narrowing with no pathological significance?

• A. Phrygian cap
• B. Hourglass
• C. Wedge-shaped
• D. Duplication

Answer: (B)

A gallbladder with a constriction in the middle creating two rounded portions is the hourglass appearance. This is a benign congenital variation where the lumen narrows at the midsection, producing proximal and distal sacs. Because the narrowing is a contour feature rather than a true obstruction or inflammatory process, it carries no pathological significance and usually doesn’t cause symptoms or complications. On ultrasound you’d see a narrow isthmus separating two lobes, with normal wall thickness and typically no stones or edema. By contrast, a fundal fold creates a cap-like shape (Phrygian cap), a wedge-shaped form describes a triangular indentation elsewhere, and duplication means there are two separate gallbladders.

A gallbladder with a constriction in the middle creating two rounded portions is the hourglass appearance. This is a benign congenital variation where the lumen narrows at the midsection, producing proximal and distal sacs. Because the narrowing is a contour feature rather than a true obstruction or inflammatory process, it carries no pathological significance and usually doesn’t cause symptoms or complications. On ultrasound you’d see a narrow isthmus separating two lobes, with normal wall thickness and typically no stones or edema. By contrast, a fundal fold creates a cap-like shape (Phrygian cap), a wedge-shaped form describes a triangular indentation elsewhere, and duplication means there are two separate gallbladders.