Carcinoma epidermoide puro-combinado de vesícula biliar / Gallbladder epidermoid carcinoma

Background: Gallbladder epidermoid carcinoma is rare and more common in women over 55 years of age. Aim: To report the features of 15 patients with gallbladder epidermoid carcinoma. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of patients with gallbladder cancer in an oncology service. Results: Of 207 patients with gallbladder cancer, 15patients aged 53-72years, 93% women had an epidermoid component in their cancer. Forty percent were diabetic and 33% had cholelithiasis. All had locoregional extension of the tumor. A cholecystectomy was done in nine patients (using open surgery in six). In six patients, only a biopsy was done. Median survival was 4.2 months. Conclusions: Gallbladder epidermoid carcinoma is uncommon and has a bad prognosis.

The liver function test enzymes and glucose level are positively correlated in gallbladder cancer: A cancer registry data analysis from north central India.

Aim of Study: To investigate the trend of expression of liver function test enzymes and other biochemical changes during gallbladder carcinogenesis. Materials and Methods: Eight hundred and seventy-eight gallbladder disease patients were selected to study the liver function test enzymes and routine blood biochemical changes in the last five years (2004-08). Statistical analysis was performed using Graph Pad prism® 5.02 software. Results: The liver function test enzymes showed significant correlations among themselves, and with glucose in gallbladder cancer and gallstone disease patients (N = 878). Out of 878 gallbladder cases, 46 (5.24%) showed significantly higher glucose level of 216.66 mg/dL (P < 0.0001). All the three pathological conditions of gallbladder, gallbladder cancer with stones (GBCS), gallbladder cancer without stones (GBC) and calculus cholecystitis (CC), showed highly significant positive correlation (Pearson) between Serum Glutamic Oxaloactetic Transaminase (SGOT) and Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT) [P < 0.0001, (GBCS); P < 0.0001, (GBC), and P < 0.0001, (CC)]. SGOT and SGPT also showed positive correlation with higher glucose level independently, in both GBCS and CC (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001), respectively. Conclusion: Simultaneous elevation of glucose and liver function test enzymes in GBC makes the diagnosis complex. Any patient of gallbladder diseases with higher level of glucose may have the possibility of developing gallbladder cancer.

Diagnostic value of serum CA242, CA 19-9, CA 15-3 and CA 125 in patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder.

BACKGROUND: Tumor markers have an increasing significance in the diagnosis and evaluation of tumor, but their role in gallbladder cancer has not been established. The present study was undertaken to determine the utility of serological markers in carcinoma of the gallbladder (CaGB). METHODS: This study was carried out in 55 cases and 8 healthy controls presenting to a single surgical unit of the University Hospital, Varanasi, India. CA242, CA19-9, CA15-3 and CA125 were assayed preoperatively in serum of patients with carcinoma of the gallbladder (39), cholelithiasis (16) and healthy controls (8) using ELISA technique. RESULTS: Mean concentration of all tumor markers was significantly raised in carcinoma of the gallbladder when compared with cholelithiasis. CA 242 was 12.10 vs 42.19 u/ ml, CA19-9 was 211.27 vs 86.06 uml, CA 15-3 was 71.42 vs 1.93u/ml and CA125 was 253.61 vs 65.5 u/ml <0.05). Sensitivity and specificity were calculated at various cut off points. Significant changes in CAl9-9 and CA242 occurred with advanced stage (p <0.05) and grade of tumor (p<0.00 1). When two tumor markers were combined, like CA242 and CA125, sensitivity and specificity improved to 87.5% and 85.7% respectively. Diagnostic accuracy is highest with a combination of CA 19-9 and CA 125 (80.65%). However, combination of tumor markers did not improve any further sensitivity or specificity of markers. CONCLUSION: Assay of CA242, CA15-3, CA19-9 and CA 125 are fairly good markers for discriminating patients of carcinoma of the gallbladder from cholelithiasis. CA242 and CA125 when used together achieved best sensitivity and specificity. Serum markers seem to be less sensitive when used individually in carcinoma of the gallbladder but may prove useful in combination.

Sobrevida de pacientes com estenose biliar maligna baseada no escovado endoscópico e na bilirrubinemia / Survival of patients with malignant biliary stricture based on endoscopic brushing and on bilirubinemia

RACIONAL: As principais causas de estenose biliar maligna são câncer de pâncreas e colangiocarcinoma. A definição do prognóstico dos pacientes no momento da pancreatocolangiografia retrógrada endoscópica é importante na escolha da conduta mais adequada. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a importância do escovado endoscópico e da bilirrubinemia na determinação da sobrevida dos pacientes com estenose biliar maligna. MÉTODOS: Os pacientes com estenose biliar diagnosticados durante pancreatocolangiografia retrógrada endoscópica foram submetidos a duplo escovado. Amostras de sangue de todos eles foram obtidas para dosagem das bilirrubinas. Os pacientes foram acompanhados para determinar o diagnóstico final e a sobrevida. RESULTADOS: Diagnóstico final de doença maligna foi obtido em 40 pacientes de um total de 50 casos de estenose biliar. Os níveis séricos elevados das bilirrubinas ou a citologia por escovado positiva para malignidade estava relacionada a menor sobrevida. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados desta pesquisa demonstram a possibilidade de determinar o prognóstico em casos de estenoses biliares malignas através do resultado do escovado endoscópico ou da bilirrubinemia.

Value of serum CEA and AFP in the diagnosis and prognosis of carcinoma gallbladder.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The poor prognosis of carcinoma of the gallbladder (CAGB) is attributable to delayed presentation in the absence of specific clinical findings in the early stages. To ascertain whether the commonly available serum tumour markers (carcino-embryonic antigen-CEA and alpha foeto protein-AFP) could be used for distinguishing CAGB from other biliary disorders and in assessing the prognosis of patients with CAGB, serum levels of these markers in patients with CAGB and those with cholelithiasis were studied. METHODS: Estimation of serum CEA in 28 patients with CAGB and 30 patients with cholelithiasis and AFP in some of these cases was done by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The mean values of CEA and AFP were 15.1 ng/ml and 166.5 ng/ml respectively for the CAGB group and 12.6 ng/ml and 166.5 ng/ml respectively for the cholelithiasis group. There was no statistical difference between the groups (p > 0.05). These markers did not show any statistically significant correlation with the stage of disease or length of survival in the patients with CAGB. CONCLUSION: Serum levels of CEA and AFP do not have any diagnostic or prognostic significance in the management of CAGB.

Genética y cáncer vesicular en Chile: distribución de grupos sanguíneos / Genetics and gallbladder cancer in Chile: distribution of blood groups

En países anglosajones se ha comunicado mayor frecuencia de grupo sanguíneo A en pacientes con cáncer gástrico, comparado con el resto de la población, a diferencia de otros como Japón y Chile con igual distribución en cancerosos gástricos que en la población general. La relación del cáncer vesicular en Chile no sólo con factores ambientales sino también genéticos, eventualmente hace valioso este tipo de estudio en nuestro país. La población de cáncer vesicular del área Sur Oriente en Santiago, tiene una distribución de genes sanguíneos diferente a la de población general chilena, con mayor proporción relativa de grupo 0 y menor relativa de grupo A. Es posible que las diferencias se deban al azar, pero es más probable que la variación de la distribución sanguínea se deba a la calidad de estrato socioeconómico bajo predominante, por su semejanza a lo establecido para una población similar según un estudio chileno reciente