Review Article

Gallbladder mucocoele: A review

Tesh M. Smalle, Alane K. Cahalane, Liza S. Köster
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 86, No 1 | a1318 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v86i1.1318 | © 2015 Tesh M. Smalle, Alane K. Cahalane, Liza S. Köster | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 26 June 2015 | Published: 09 December 2015

About the author(s)

Tesh M. Smalle, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Alane K. Cahalane, Veterinary Specialty Hospital of Hong Kong, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Liza S. Köster, Department of Clinical Sciences and Center for Integrative Mammalian Research, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, West Indies

Abstract

Gallbladder mucocoele (GBM) is an abnormal, intraluminal accumulation of inspissated bile and/or mucous within the gallbladder. Older, small- to medium-breed dogs seem to be predisposed, but no sex predilection has been identified. Clinical signs are often non-specific and include vomiting, lethargy, anorexia, abdominal pain, icterus and polyuria–polydipsia. Results of a complete blood count may be unremarkable, but serum biochemistry usually reveals increased liver enzymes. The ultrasonographic appearance is diagnostic and well described in the literature. Surgical intervention for the treatment of GBM remains the therapeutic gold standard, with short- and long-term survival for biliary surgery being 66%. The worst outcome is seen in those dogs requiring cholecystoenterostomy. With GBM becoming an apparently increasingly common cause of extrahepatic biliary disease in canines, it is essential that clinicians become familiar with the current literature pertaining to this condition. Numerous predisposing factors are highlighted in this review article and the role of certain endocrinopathies (e.g. hyperadrenocorticism and hypothyroidism) in the development of GBM is touched upon. Furthermore, the aetiopathogenesis of this disease is discussed with reference to the latest literature. Cholecystectomy remains the treatment of choice, but other options are considered based on a current literature review.

Keywords

gallbladder, mucocoele, extrahepatic biliary disease,

Metrics

Total abstract views: 8622
Total article views: 11430

 

Crossref Citations

1. Influence of normograde versus retrograde catheterization of bile ducts in dogs treated for gallbladder mucocele
Allison B. Putterman, Laura E. Selmic, Cameron Kindra, Daniel J. Duffy, Marije Risselada, Heidi Phillips
Veterinary Surgery  vol: 50  issue: 4  first page: 784  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1111/vsu.13632

2. Gallbladder mucocele caused by intestinal metaplasia in lithiasic cholecystitis: A case report and literature review of a rare association
Marion Poget, Vilma Salvatori Chappuis, Francesc Carbó Descamps, Alend Saadi
International Journal of Surgery Case Reports  vol: 116  first page: 109405  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109405

3. High Frequency of Cholecystitis in Dogs with Gallbladder Mucocoele
Fraser Ian Hill, Jonathan Paul Speelman, Karen Hui, Omid Nekouei, Vanessa R. Barrs
SSRN Electronic Journal   year: 2022  
doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4017418

4. High frequency of cholecystitis in dogs with gallbladder mucocoele in Hong Kong
F.I. Hill, J.P. Speelman, K.K.L. Hui, O. Nekouei, P. Beczkowski, V.R. Barrs
The Veterinary Journal  vol: 287  first page: 105881  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105881

5. Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound complements two‐dimensional ultrasonography in diagnosing gallbladder diseases in dogs
Paolo Bargellini, Riccardo Orlandi, Chiara Paloni, Giuseppe Rubini, Paolo Fonti, Cecilia Righi, Mark E. Peterson, Mark Rishniw, Cristiano Boiti
Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound  vol: 59  issue: 3  first page: 345  year: 2018  
doi: 10.1111/vru.12601

6. The Mucocele of the Gallbladder
Gennaro Clemente, Valeria Fico, Davide De Sio, Agostino Maria De Rose
Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery  vol: 21  issue: 8  first page: 1366  year: 2017  
doi: 10.1007/s11605-017-3399-9

7. Clinical findings for dogs undergoing elective and nonelective cholecystectomies for gall bladder mucoceles
S. L. Friesen, D. A. Upchurch, D. L. Hollenbeck, J. K. Roush
Journal of Small Animal Practice  vol: 62  issue: 7  first page: 547  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1111/jsap.13312

8. Cholecystojejunostomy After Subtotal Cholecystectomy in a Dog with Extrahepatic Bile Duct Obstruction
Tomoya HARAGUCHI, Masaharu OHASHI, Takato ITOH, Yuri YAMASHITA, Kanako TSUJI, Miho WAKIMOTO, Tokiyo ITAMOTO, Akane IKI, Tomoko OKUSA, Megumi OKISHIO, Naomasa NITTA
Japanese Journal of Veterinary Anesthesia & Surgery  vol: 52  issue: 3+4  first page: 36  year: 2021  
doi: 10.2327/jjvas.52.36

9. Incidental gallbladder mucocele mimicking acute cholecystitis: A case report and review of literature
Aran Thiravialingam, Karthik Sriganeshan, Hisham F Bahmad, Francesca Polit, Asma Ahmed, Devendra Joshi, Robert Poppiti
World Journal of Experimental Medicine  vol: 15  issue: 3  year: 2025  
doi: 10.5493/wjem.v15.i3.107248

10. Concurrent hepatopathy in dogs with gallbladder mucocele: Prevalence, predictors, and impact on long-term outcome
Sara A. Jablonski, Yue Xiang (Polly) Chen, Jarod E. Williams, Jessica A. Kendziorski, Rebecca C. Smedley
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine  vol: 38  issue: 1  first page: 176  year: 2024  
doi: 10.1111/jvim.16922

11. Prognostic Factors in 26 Cats Undergoing Surgery for Extra-Hepatic Biliary Obstruction
Jonathan P. Speelman, Ki-Lam Hui, Nicolas T. Woodbridge, Susanne Pfeiffer, Julia A. Beatty, Alan H. Taylor
Veterinary Sciences  vol: 11  issue: 12  first page: 610  year: 2024  
doi: 10.3390/vetsci11120610

12. Presumptive migrating gall bladder mucocoele in two dogs with gall bladder rupture
R. K. Burchell, L. Thornton, C. K. Lim, M. Murakami, Y. Nakamura, A. Gal
Journal of Small Animal Practice  vol: 60  issue: 1  first page: 58  year: 2019  
doi: 10.1111/jsap.12804

13. Evaluation of Hepatoprotectants in the Management of Subclinical Gallbladder Mucocele in Dogs
Jiyoon Lee, Jiyoung Park, Sang-Joon Lee, Changbaig Hyun
Animals  vol: 15  issue: 20  first page: 3002  year: 2025  
doi: 10.3390/ani15203002

14. Association between biliary tree manipulation and outcome in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for gallbladder mucocele: A multi‐institutional retrospective study
Hunter J. Piegols, Galina M. Hayes, Samantha Lin, Ameet Singh, Daniel K. Langlois, Daniel J. Duffy
Veterinary Surgery  vol: 50  issue: 4  first page: 767  year: 2021  
doi: 10.1111/vsu.13542

15. ORNIPURAL® as conventional therapy versus mixture of Curcuma longa extract and pomegranate peel extract as homeotherapy in dogs with dexamethasone-induced hepatopathy: clinicolaboratory, ultrasonographic, and histopathological monitoring
Arafat Khalphallah, Sabry A. Mousa, Abdulaziz H. Almuhanna, Dalia Hassan, Laila A. Al-Shuraym, Lamya Ahmed Alkeridis, Ebtsam S. Abdel-lah, Mustafa Shukry, Enas A. Abdelhafez, Enas Elmeligy
Frontiers in Veterinary Science  vol: 12  year: 2025  
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1564648

16. Long-Term Outcome after Cholecystectomy without Common Bile Duct Catheterization and Flushing in Dogs
Matteo Rossanese, Phillipa Williams, Andrew Tomlinson, Filippo Cinti
Animals  vol: 12  issue: 16  first page: 2112  year: 2022  
doi: 10.3390/ani12162112

17. The dual surgical intervention of cholecystectomy and adrenalectomy in an 11-year-old female dog
Seung-Hyun Kim, Jun-Gyu Park, Nam-Ku Kang, Yeong-Bin Baek, Sang-Ik Park
Korean Journal of Veterinary Service  vol: 47  issue: 4  first page: 311  year: 2024  
doi: 10.7853/kjvs.2024.47.4.311

18. Retrospective analysis of canine gallbladder contents in biliary sludge and gallbladder mucoceles
Shinya MIZUTANI, Shidow TORISU, Yasuyuki KANEKO, Shushi YAMAMOTO, Shinsuke FUJIMOTO, Benedict Huai Ern ONG, Kiyokazu NAGANOBU
Journal of Veterinary Medical Science  vol: 79  issue: 2  first page: 366  year: 2017  
doi: 10.1292/jvms.16-0562

19. Life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding caused by jejunal heterotopic gastric mucosa in an adult dog: a rare case report
Roxana Merca, Barbara Richter
BMC Veterinary Research  vol: 18  issue: 1  year: 2022  
doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03415-0

20. Clinicopathological characterization of gallbladder mucocele associated with splenic nodular hyperplasia in a geriatric dog
Rafaela Lima Coppo, Tallys Abemar Souza Lobato , João Otávio Ribeiro Silva, Letícia Carletti Barbosa , Ariela Zoppi Salvador, Mikaelly Lopes Broseghini, Haide Valeska Scheid, Fernanda Cristina de Abreu Quintela Castro, Sarah Fernandes Teixeira, Clairton Marcolongo Pereira
Caderno Pedagógico  vol: 22  issue: 13  first page: e21231  year: 2025  
doi: 10.54033/cadpedv22n13-020

21. Increased radiographic opacity in the region of the gallbladder can be identified in dogs with large amounts of gallbladder sediment, sludge balls, and gallbladder mucocele
Hyunyoung Jang, Sang‐Kwon Lee, Sooyoung Choi, Hojung Choi, Youngwon Lee, Kija Lee
Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound  vol: 64  issue: 4  first page: 593  year: 2023  
doi: 10.1111/vru.13233