A rare cause of hemobilia: Metastatic melanoma of the gallbladder

Abstract

Introduction: Gallbladder melanoma is an extremely rare entity, even more so in living patients, as many remain asymptomatic. Patients usually present with symptoms resembling acute cholecystitis, however here we present a case of metastatic melanoma of the gallbladder presenting with hemobilia. Case Report: An 82-year-old lady with a history of skin cancer excisions, including melanoma, many years ago, presented with anemia of unknown origin. A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed, demonstrating a gallbladder mass and hemobilia. She successfully underwent open cholecystectomy, partial liver resection, and lymph node dissection, which on histopathology, demonstrated metastatic melanoma. She remains disease free eight months later. Conclusion: Although melanoma of the gallbladder is rare, in patients with a past history of melanoma, a high index of suspicion should be maintained if there are concerning signs, such as anemia, without a clear cause. With early identification and surgical intervention, a patient’s survival rate can be optimized.