A case of Combined Resection for Synchronous Primary Carcinoma of Gallbladder and Duodenum

PURPOSE: The incidence of multiple primary malignant tumor has ranged from 0.7% to 11% in the medical literature. Various organs in the digestive system are the sites of multiple primary cancer (MPC). MPC may be synchronous or metachronous depending on the interval between their diagnosis. To the best of our knowledge, there are only rare reports of resected cases of synchronous primary carcinomas that developed in the GB and duodenum. METHODS: We present here a patient who underwent an operation for synchronous primary carcinomas of the GB and duodenum. A 51-year-old female was admitted for postprandial abdominal discomfort. CT scan and MRI of the abdomen showed a 3 x 2 cm sized heterogenously enhancing mass in the GB and a 3.7 x 2.7 cm sized hetrogenously enhancing mass in the 2nd portion of the duodeum. The laboratory findings, including the tumor markers, were non-specific. An elective operation was done under the impression of combined GB cancer and cancer in the 2nd portion of the deuodenum. On the operative findings, there was a 3 x 2.5 cm sized mass in the GB and a 5 x 4 cm sized duodenal mass with near complete luminal obstruction 3 cm distal from the pyloric ring. Radical cholecystectomy with wedge resection of the liver bed and Whipple's operation was performed. RESULTS: On microscopic examination, the GB mass was well differentiated adenocarcinoma and the duodenal mass was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, and one lymph node (a lymph node along the common hepatic artery) among the 18 dissected lymph nodes was invaded by tumor cells. The microscopic findings showed that the GB mass and duodenal mass were synchronous primary carcinomas. The patient recovered uneventfully and is alive and doing well without evidence of recurrence at 21-months of follow up evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: We report here on a case of combined curative resection for synchronous primary carcinomas of the gallbladder and duodenum.

Evaluation of Newly Developed Small (< or = 20 mm) Enhancing Nodules on the Arterial Phase CT after Transcatheter Arterial Cheomoembolization in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE: We assessed the clinical significance of newly developed small (< or = 20 mm) early-enhancing hepatic nodules on arterial phase CT after performing transcatheter arterial cheomoembolization (TACE) in patients suffering with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched for the radiologic reports that showed small early enhancing nodule (< or = 20 mm) on the arterial phase imaging of follow-up CT after performing TACE. Thirty-seven lesions in 30 patients had round or oval shaped nodules and the numbers of nodule for one patient was less than five. We classified the nodules by size, location and the decreased attenuation seen on the portal venous phase. The latest follow-up CTs were reviewed to assess the nodules for the final diagnosis. All the follow-up CTs were two-phase spiral CT scans. RESULTS: Twenty-five (67%) of the 37 nodules were recurred HCC, as was determined on the basis of their interval growth and lipiodol uptake after TACE. Among the 37 nodules, seven (18%) disappeared on the latest follow-up CT and they were considered as definite pseudolesions. The remaining five (15%) were stable in size or they decreased in size, and they were considered as probable pseudolesions. The mean size of the nodules on initial CT was 11 mm. The mean size of the malignant nodules was 11+/-4.2 mm and that of the benign pseudolesions was 9+/-4.9 mm. The nodules located on the hepatic surface were possible to definite benign pseudolesions (p<0.05). All ten low attenuated nodules seen on the portal phase were HCCs. CONCLUSION: When seen on the follow-up CT scans of HCC patients after performing TACE, the newly developed small early-enhancing nodules were considered to have high potential of being HCC by their locations and enhancing patterns.