Synchronous cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer: A rare presentation

Abstract

Introduction: Synchronous biliary tree and gallbladder cancers are rarely encountered and reported in the literature. In this article, we report an extremely rare presentation of a patient with distal common hepatic duct (CHD), proximal common bile duct (CBD) and gallbladder cancer associated with anomalous pancreaticobiliary duct junction (APBDJ) as primary tumors. Case Report: A 40-year-old male referred to us with RUQ pain, fever, jaundice and pruritis since two weeks. PET-CT showed hypermetabolic polypoid mass in the fundus of gallbladder and a periportal node. ERCP was done but guide wire could not be passed beyond mid CBD. The findings were neoplastic mass in fundus of the gallbladder with pericholedochal lymphadenopathy. There was another neoplastic mass in the CBD. An extended cholecystectomy with extrahepatic CBD excision with a pancreaticoduodenectomy with radical lymphadenectomy was performed. Intra-operative ultrasonography was done to rule out other lesions in the pancreas and liver. Histopathological examination revealed well differentiated adenocarcinoma of gallbladder and adenocarcinoma of proximal CBD and distal CHD, stagging pT2 pN0 pMx. Conclusion: Synchronous extra hepatic and gallbladder tumors are extremely rare, their etiopathogenesis has not been properly understood and defined. Biliary cancers with PBM are thought to develop multicentrally, due to the effect of pancreatic juice reflux on the mucosa of the biliary tract.