Incidental Early Gallbladder Carcinoma With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Rare Synchronous Double Primary Malignant Tumor

Abstract

We present a case of synchronous double primary tumor of gallbladder and liver. A 65-year-old male was admitted to the hospital complaining of abdominal discomfort and right upper abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography imaging showed acute cholecystitis with tiny gallbladder stones, a 2.2 cm size enhanced nodule between segment 7 and 8 and a 5.6 cm size hypodense lesion in the left lobe of the liver. The patient underwent a partial hepatectomy of the left lobe of the liver and a cholecystectomy. The result of histopathology confirmed the diagnosis as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of the liver and gallbladder adenocarcinoma. The histopathologic examination of fine needle aspiration from the lesion between segment 7 and 8 also revealed an HCC and radiofrequency ablation was performed. The coexistence of an HCC and gallbladder adenocarcinoma is extremely rare. In conclusion, concomitant gallbladder carcinoma and HCC may occur with coexisting risk factors. Despite the more sophisticated diagnostic tools, it is not always possible to detect synchronus malignancies without histopathological examination. Radiofrequency ablation can be performed following surgery with low morbidity for preservation of liver function.




J Med Cases. 2014;5(11):561-563
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jmc1961w