Gallbladder melanoma mimicking acute acalculous cholecystitis. 2000

P De Simone, and P Mainente, and N Bedin
UnitĂ  Operativa di Chirurgia Generale, Ospedale Civile, 71 Via Forlanini, 31029 Vittorio Veneto, (TV), Italy. pdesimone@tin.it

Gallbladder (GB) melanoma is a rare entity with a dismal prognosis. Its primary or secondary status is difficult to establish in the absence of an overt cutaneous localization. We report herein the case of a misdiagnosed GB melanoma mimicking acute acalculous cholecystitis that was treated by means of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). A 54-year-old man was referred to our institution for acute cholecystitis. Apart from the ablation of some nevocytic nevi 7 years before admission, the patient's medical history was unremarkable. The ultrasound (US) examination showed a slightly enlarged acalculous gallbladder with thickened walls and a well-circumscribed polypoid mass in the fundus. The patient was treated medically and referred to LC. At surgery, some satellite nodules were visualized in the GB hepatic bed. The GB was removed, and two hepatic nodules were excised. Histology showed a pT3 melanoma. The patient underwent an open hepatic wedge resection 3 weeks after laparoscopy. No recurrence was observed at 6-month follow-up. To date, only one case of melanoma of the gallbladder treated with LC has been reported. GB melanoma is a diagnostic challenge when there is no evidence of a primary lesion. However, the occurrence of acalculous cholecystitis and a GB polyp in patients with a positive history of mole ablation should alert surgeons to the possibility of a melanoma.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008545 Melanoma A malignant neoplasm derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, which may occur in the skin of any part of the body, in the eye, or, rarely, in the mucous membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites. It occurs mostly in adults and may originate de novo or from a pigmented nevus or malignant lentigo. Melanomas frequently metastasize widely, and the regional lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and brain are likely to be involved. The incidence of malignant skin melanomas is rising rapidly in all parts of the world. (Stedman, 25th ed; from Rook et al., Textbook of Dermatology, 4th ed, p2445) Malignant Melanoma,Malignant Melanomas,Melanoma, Malignant,Melanomas,Melanomas, Malignant
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002764 Cholecystitis Inflammation of the GALLBLADDER; generally caused by impairment of BILE flow, GALLSTONES in the BILIARY TRACT, infections, or other diseases. Empyema, Gallbladder,Gallbladder Inflammation,Empyema, Gall Bladder,Gall Bladder Empyema,Gallbladder Empyema,Inflammation, Gallbladder
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D005706 Gallbladder Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the gallbladder. Cancer of Gallbladder,Gallbladder Cancer,Cancer of the Gallbladder,Gall Bladder Cancer,Neoplasms, Gallbladder,Bladder Cancer, Gall,Bladder Cancers, Gall,Cancer, Gall Bladder,Cancer, Gallbladder,Cancers, Gall Bladder,Cancers, Gallbladder,Gall Bladder Cancers,Gallbladder Cancers,Gallbladder Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Gallbladder
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000208 Acute Disease Disease having a short and relatively severe course. Acute Diseases,Disease, Acute,Diseases, Acute
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes
D017081 Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic Excision of the gallbladder through an abdominal incision using a laparoscope. Cholecystectomy, Celioscopic,Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy,Celioscopic Cholecystectomies,Celioscopic Cholecystectomy,Cholecystectomies, Celioscopic,Cholecystectomies, Laparoscopic,Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies

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