Primary malignant melanoma of the gallbladder

• Published in: Tando Vol. 6; no. 4; pp. 424 - 430
• Main Authors: SAOSHIRO, Takeo, HONDA, Sanpei, KAWAGUCHI, Misao, NIYAKAWA, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Biliary Association 1992
• ISSN: 0914-0077; 1883-6879
• DOI: 10.11210/tando1987.6.4_424

Primary malignant melanoma of the gallbladder is a rare disease, and 21 cases have been reported in the literature. The current patient was a 44-year-old male who was admited with a complaint of crampy pain in the right costal region. Clinical examinations revealed gallbladder tumor and multiple liver metastasis. The patient died about four months later. Autopsy demonstrated a polypoid tumor of 3×3×2.5cm in size in the gallbladder, and metastasis to the liver, pancreas, adrenal gland, bone marrow and cystic bladder. Microscopic examination revealed heavily pigmented malignant cells, which were stained with Fontana-Masson and S-100 stain. Junctional activity was absent. No abnormality was noted in the skin and eyes. The average age of the 22 patients with this disease, including the current patient, was 53.5years. The ratio of men to women was 1: O.7. Metastasis to other organs was observed in 75%of the cases, and complication of gallstone and junctional activity were noted in 9.1% and 27.3% respectively.