Adenoendocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder clinically mimicking squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

We present the case of a 62-year-old Japanese man whose histological diagnosis was adenoendocrine cell carcinoma of the gallbladder at autopsy, but whose antemortem diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was admitted to hospital with complaints of occasional vomiting and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a large tumor on the gallbladder involving the adjacent liver, colon, and duodenum, with multiple metastases in the greater omentum and paraportal lymph nodes. The serum level of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) was high, whereas that of carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, as well as that of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was within the normal range. Due to these clinical features, we first suspected advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder. After two cycles of gemcitabine monotherapy, the tumor had become enlarged and the regimen was changed to a combination of docetaxel and cisplatin. Though tumor regression was achieved and his serum SCCA level normalized after 3 months, the patient rejected additional chemotherapy and died 8 months after the diagnosis. The histopathological findings made by autopsy demonstrated the tumor to be an adenoendocrine cell carcinoma without squamous carcinoma cells. The case is interesting in that the clinical features were similar to those of squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder.

Synergistic Increase of Oxidative Stress and Tumor Markers in PAH-Exposed Workers

“…NSE is commonly used as markers for the differentiation of malignant and benign lesions (Seemanna et al, 1999). SCC is physiologically expressed in the skin and other squamous epithelial cells and has been proven helpful in the diagnosis of lung cancer, especially squamous cell carcinoma (Ho et al, 2000;Taniguchi et al, 2009). Accordingly, our results suggest that PAHs enhances these serum tumor markers which may further promote tumor initiation.…”

“…Accordingly, our results suggest that PAHs enhances these serum tumor markers which may further promote tumor initiation. Additionally, the levels of SCC, Cyfra21-1 and NSE were lower as compared to that in patients with advanced lung cancer (Seemanna et al, 1999;Ho et al, 2000;Taniguchi et al, 2009;Liang et al, 2013). Chu et al found that the serum levels of SCC, CEA, Cyfra21-1 and NSE were significantly higher in early-staged lung cancer patients than those in patients with benign disease.…”

Nociceptive and inflammatory mediator upregulation in a mouse model of chronic prostatitis

“…ASIC-3, TRPA1, TRPA1 and TREK-1 were all upregulated in both thoracolumbar and lumbosacral DRG-p somata, the principal differences between the innervations being upregulation in TREK-2 in thoracolumbar and P2X3 in lumbosacral DRG-p somata. These markers were selected for study based on documented modulation, either pharmacologically or genetically, of either or both urinary bladder and colorectal nociception in mouse models of organ hypersensitivity [5; 10; 15; 16; 18; 31; 33; 39]. We anticipated that prostate inflammation would lead to an increase in putative nociceptive markers in DRG somata and that the increases would be more evident in LS than in TL DRG based on previous studies.…”

A Case of Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Gallbladder Associated with Anomalous Union of the Pancreaticobiliary Duct

“…Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder is mostly adenocarcinoma (80-95%) and neuroendocrine tumor of the gallbladder is rare (less than 4%) 5. The origin of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder is still unclear.…”

“…In one study which analyzes 65 cases of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors, the tumors were classified as 49 TCs, 4 ACs, 6 LCNECs and 6 SmCCs 11. Only three cases of AUPBD associated with small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder and one case of AUPBD associated with adenocarcinoma with focal small cell and large cell neuroendocrine tumor of the gallbladder has been reported 5,12-14…”