A Case of Undifferentiated Carcinoma of the Gallbladder

Abstract

We report a case of undifferentiated carcinoma of the gallbladder in a 68-year-old woman who was admitted to our department with an abdominal tumor and obstructive jaundice. Under the preoperative diagnosis of gallbladder tumor, based on imaging findings and elevated levels of NSE, CEA, PIVKA-II and CA19-9, laparatomy was performed, revealing a primary tumor of the gallbladder invading the liver parencyma, common bile duct, hepatoduodenal ligament and transverse colon, which were resected “en bloc” with the tumor. The resected specimen weighted 2, 105 g, and the histological examination showed that most areas consisted of undifferentiated small cells. There were also focal areas showing epithelial connection of the tumor cells, where they stained for CA19-9 and cytokeratin. Because of the very poor prognosis of undifferentiated carcinoma of the gallbladder and its early remote lymphnode metastasis, early diagnosis and surgical treatment must be achieved. © 1993, The Japanese Society of Gastroenterological Surgery. All rights reserved.