Adeno-endocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder

Abstract

We encountered a rare case of adeno-endocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder in an 81-year-old woman. Imaging study revealed a common bile duct stone. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed, and the stone was extracted successfully. Thereafter, cholecystectomy was performed. A papillary tumor was found in the neck of the gallbladder. Histologically, the tumor consisted of two components, well differentiated adenocarcinoma and endocrine cell carcinoma. However, no clinical signs of tumor hormonal activity were observed. The tumor cells in the area of the endocrine cell carcinoma were small and round. Histochemical studies of these tumor cells were positive for chromogranin A and Grimelius silver impregnation. The tumor cells in the area of the adenocarcinoma were well differentiated adenocarcinoma and included goblet-type cells with a tubular structure or solid growth pattern. These adenocarcinoma cells stained positively for Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff, and both types of tumor cells stained positively for carbohydrate antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen. It was suggested that the histogenesis of the endocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder was closely related to that of the adenocarcinoma.

Adenoendocrine Cell Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: Report of a Case

“…14 Unless metastases in the lymph nodes or distant organs are present, a relatively good survival can therefore be expected in cases of adenoendocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder. 6 …”

“…In 7 of the 18 patients, an apparent transitional area between adenocarcinoma and endocrine cell carcinoma was demonstrated based on the microscopic findings. 6 The presence of two components in the tumor suggests both components may arise from a common precursor cell.…”

“…As a result, the actual number of reported adenoendocrine cell carcinoma cases remains unclear. According to Eriguchi et al, 6 18 cases of adenoendocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder have been reported up to 1 999. In addition, 16 cases of adenoendocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder have been reported in the literature up to now, including our case.…”

Adenoendocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder clinically mimicking squamous cell carcinoma

“…It appears that 35 cases of AEGB have been reported so far. 2,3 However, because cases of mixed exo-endocrine cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma with an adenocarcinomatous component, and oat cell carcinoma have been reported, the actual number of AEGB cases remains unclear. Because most of these tumors, except those in the gallbladder mucosa, are composed of small cell carcinoma, AEGB is considered to have similar clinical features to small cell carcinoma.…”

“…1 Small cell carcinoma with adenocarcinoma, which is defi ned as adenoendocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder (AEGB) in Japan, is relatively rare and has a poor prognosis due to rapid tumor growth and early spread by metastasis. 2,3 However, its clinicopathological characteristics and behavior have not been fully clarifi ed. SCGB is also rare and accounts for 5.3%-10.6% of all incidents of gallbladder carcinoma.…”