TWO CASES OF UNDIFFERENTIATED CARCINOMA OF THE GALLBLADDER

• Published in: Nihon Rinsho Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Journal of Japan Surgical Association) Vol. 64; no. 12; pp. 3129 - 3134
• Main Authors: TAKASHIMA, Ikuhiro, OTAGAKI, Sunao, NISHIMOTO, Naoki, YAMASHITA, Yoshinori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Surgical Association 2003
• ISSN: 1345-2843; 1882-5133
• DOI: 10.3919/jjsa.64.3129

We report two cases of undifferentiated carcinoma of the gallbladder which is rare. Patient 1, a 78-year-old man, presented with acute cholecystitis. Abdominal CT scan and ultrasonography showed a small nodule 1.0cm in diameter at the neck of the gallbladder. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed obstruction of the cystic duct. He underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy under the diagnosis of gallbladder tumor. Histopathological findings revealed undifferentiated carcinoma of the gallbladder. Because surgical margin was positive, a choledochotomy with lymph node dissection was additionally performed. No evidence of recurrence has appeared 8 month after the surgery. Patient 2, an 85-year-old woman, was admitted to the hospital for the treatment of acute cholecystitis. Abdominal CT scan and ultrasonography showed cholecystocholedocho-lithiasis with a liver abscess. She underwent surgery after percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage. We judged that the liver abscess was due to tumor necrosis during the operation. However, a cholecystectomy and a choledocholithotomy without tumor resection were performed because of her poor risk with the aged. Histopathological findings also revealed undifferentiated carcinoma of the gallbladder. She died of rapid growth of metastatic liver tumor and lymph nodes 75 days after the surgery.