A case of Small Cell Carcinoma of the Gallbladder / 한국간담췌외과학회지

ABSTRACT

Small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder is a rare neoplasm with a high malignant potential, representing about 4% of all carcinomas in this organ. It predominantly develops in older women with cholelithiasis and deaths usually occur within a few months after the diagnosis. We report a case with a small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder with literature review. A case of 74-year-old woman with fever and abdominal pain for days was temporarily diagnosed as empyema of the gallbladder and received emergency cholecystostomy. 15 days later, she underwent cholecystectomy. Pathological examination of the gallbladder revealed small cell carcinoma. Of the immunohistochemical stains for neuroendocrine and other tumor markers, this tumor was positive for cytokeratin, NSE, lysozyme, gastrin,p53 and p16 and negative for CEA, chromogranin, synaptophysin, somatostatin, serotonin and ACTH. The small cell was partially originated from the common premobial cell with bidirectional differentiation. She died of cancer cachexia 2 months after initial operation.