Post-Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Port-Site Metastases from Previously Undiagnosed Upper Gastro-Intestinal Malignancies - Our Experience of Six Cases

Abstract

Aim: Patients undergoing cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis with symptoms of recent-onset dyspepsia should also be investigated for having co-existing upper gastrointestinal malignancy.Methods: In the last one and a half years we have received six cases of port-site metastases who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis with symptoms of recentonset dyspepsia. All six patients developed port-site metastases within 1-3 months after the surgeryResults: After thorough history, clinical examination and investigations, all patients were diagnosed as cases of upper gastrointestinal malignancies, which remained undiagnosed at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, with no evidence of malignancy in the gall bladder specimen.Conclusion: Occurrence of port-site metastases from undiagnosed UGI malignancies suggests that care should be exercised in attributing dyspepsia to gall stone disease only and an UGI endoscopy may be included as an essential preoperative investigation tool, especially in middle-aged and elderly patients Some measures should be adopted in order to decrease the incidence of PSM.