Synchronous primary colonic and early gallbladder carcinomas: report of a rare case

Abstract

The incidence of multiple primary malignant tumors in the same individual is increasing worldwide. We report a case of a 30 years old female with an adenocarcinoma of the colon in whom a high grade dysplasia/carcinoma in situ of the gallbladder was incidentally discovered in the cholecystectomy specimen resected with the colon for multiple gall stones. Synchronous adenocarcinomas of the colon and the gallbladder are extremely rare with only seven cases reported so far. The link between the colonic and the gall bladder carcinoma may reside in the presence of gall stones rather than a hereditary predisposition to cancer development as may be suggested by a negative family history for colorectal and gallbladder cancers. Because the colon is the organ that is most frequently involved in the setting of multiple primary malignant tumors, thorough preoperative screening and follow up for other cancers, including gallbladder cancer, is recommended for patients presenting with colorectal carcinoma.