Ann Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg.  2017 Aug;21(3):168-171. 10.14701/ahbps.2017.21.3.168.

Small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder: a case report

• Lee H
• Choi HJ
• Park IY

• KMID: 2389995
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14701/ahbps.2017.21.3.168

Abstract

Small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gallbladder is an extremely rare tumor. Despite aggressive and varied treatments, its prognosis is poor. A 70-year-old woman undergoing treatment for pneumonia was detected with a gallbladder mass. Radical cholecystectomy was performed and the pathology revealed small cell carcinoma. There were metastases in 2 lymph nodes, scoring T2N1M0, stage IIIB (AJCC 7th). The patient has survived thus far, with subsequent chemotherapy. SCC of the gallbladder has an extremely low incidence and poor prognosis. In some cases, radical surgery with chemotherapy or radiation therapy could increase survival rate of patients.

Keyword

Gallbladder neoplasms; Small-cell carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Aged
Carcinoma, Small Cell*
Cholecystectomy
Drug Therapy
Female
Gallbladder Neoplasms
Gallbladder*
Humans
Incidence
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pathology
Pneumonia
Prognosis
Survival Rate

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 A computed tomography scan showing a mass in the gallbladder.

• 

  Fig. 2 A magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography finding, showing a mass in the gallbladder.

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  Fig. 3 Positron emission tomography-computed tomography showing hypermetabolic uptake in the gallbladder.

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  Fig. 4 Gross examination revealing a black-pigmented stone in the gallbladder, which did not perforate the serosa.

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  Fig. 5 Tumor histology, consistent with poorly differentiated small-cell carcinoma of the gallbladder (A). Tumor cells are positive for chromogranin A (B), synaptophysin (C), and Ki-67 (D).

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