A CASE OF MULTIPLE CARCINOMA OF THE GALL BLADDER COEXISTING ADENOSQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA AND ADENOCARCINOMA IN THE SAME GALL BLADDER

Abstract

Most carcinomas of the gall bladder are adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous cell carcinomas represent only about 5% of all gall bladder carcinomas. This paper describes a very rare case of adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous cell carcinoma coexsting in the gall bladder. An 87-year-old woman was seen at the hospital because of sudden right hypochondralgia. From clinical symptoms, findings, and various imaging methods, the patient was diagnosed as acute cholecystitis and cholecystectomy was performed. There were stones in the gall bladder, a lesser tubercle-like elevated lesion in the fundus of the gall bladder, and a papillary tumor in the cervical part of the organ. Histopathologically the lesion in the fundus was adenosquamous cell carcinoma in which adenocarcinoma partially accompanied by keratinization and a transition into squamous cell carcinoma. On the other hand, the lesion in the cervical part of the gall badder was adenocarcinoma. The both lesions were independent and no continuity between them was found. Multiple carcinoma of he gall bladder, coexisting of adenosquamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, has not been reported in Japan so far. A review of the relevant literature is also presented here.