Left-Sided Abdominal Pain Revealing Acute Cholecystitis in Situs Inversus Totalis: Diagnostic Pitfalls and Surgical Considerations
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital condition that can complicate the diagnosis and management of acute abdominal pathology due to atypical symptom localization. Acute cholecystitis in this setting may present with left-sided abdominal pain, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. The scientific rationale for this case report is to emphasize the importance of recognizing anatomical variants when evaluating atypical abdominal presentations. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman who presented with left upper quadrant pain, nausea, and vomiting. Imaging studies demonstrated dextrocardia and complete mirror-image transposition of the thoracic and abdominal organs, consistent with situs inversus totalis, along with findings of acute calculous cholecystitis. The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a mirrored port placement technique without complications and had an uneventful recovery. This case highlights that early use of imaging and appropriate surgical adaptation enable safe laparoscopic management. Future research should focus on multicenter data to better characterize diagnostic delays and refine surgical strategies in patients with situs inversus totalis.
Source: Cureus
Institutions: Tecnológico de Monterrey, Hospital General de México
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7128470990