ABSTRACT
Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) of the gallbladder are very rare and aggressive tumors with poor prognosis. Most of them are poorly differentiated and belong to the small cell type. We report a case of a 59-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain and distension. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a large heterogeneous mass in the liver, adjacent to the gallbladder, and omental nodules. CA 19-9 level was elevated and ascitic fluid cytology was suspicious for malignancy. Percutaneous biopsy of the liver mass confirmed the diagnosis of small cell NEC of the gallbladder. The patient was considered inoperable and planned for chemotherapy, but she died 20 days after admission. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenges and the dismal outcome of small cell NEC of the gallbladder. Early detection and multimodal treatment are essential for improving the survival of these patients.
ABSTRACT
Cavernous hemangiomas were first reported in 1929 by Globus and Doshay, and are defined as benign vascular structures developed between the neural tissues occurring in the central nervous system, consisting of a dilated vascular bed. Cavernous hemangiomas comprise nearly 5-12% of all spinal vascular malformations; however, existence in the epidural space without bone involvement is rare. Only 4% of all cavernous hemangiomas (0.22/1.000.000) are purely epidural cavernous hemangiomas. In this case report, we removed a hemorrhagic thoracic mass presenting with progressive neurological deficits in a 55-year-old male patient. We found this case to be appropriate for presentation due to the rare occurrence of this type of cavernous hemangioma.
