Journal List > J Korean Soc Magn Reson Med > v.16(3) > 1011858

TOOLS
Shin, Lee, Lim, Choi, and Choi: Small Cell Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: A Case Report
Case Report
Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Journal of the Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 2012; 16(3): 266-270.

Published online: 31 December 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/jksmrm.2012.16.3.266

Small Cell Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: A Case Report

Hye Seon Shin1, Young Hwan Lee1, Se Woong Lim1, See Sung Choi1, Geum Ha Choi2

1Department of Radiology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine and Hospital, Korea.

2Department of Pathology, Wonkwang University School of Medicine and Hospital, Korea.

Corresponding author: Young Hwan Lee, M.D. Department of Radiology, Wonkwang University Hospital, 344-2 Shinyong-dong, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-711, Korea. Tel. 82-63-859-1927, Fax. 82-63-851-4749, yjyh@wonkwang.ac.kr

Received 13 March 2012       Revised 21 June 2012       Accepted 14 August 2012

Copyright © 2012 Korean Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine

Abstract

Small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder is a type of neuroendocrine tumor and very rare. We report ultrasound, CT and MR findings of a small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder that was confirmed by pathology. Small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder was seen as a well-defined mass with peripheral rim enhancement in the gallbladder. In spite of the large size of the mass, direct and extensive invasion of the liver was not detected. However, there were many metastatic lymph nodes.

Keywords: Gallbladder, Neuroendocrine tumor, Small cell carcinoma, Computed tomography (CT), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
A 64-year-old man with small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder.
a. Abdominal ultrasonography shows irregular shaped, heterogeneous hypoechoic solid mass (arrows) at fundus portion of the gallbladder with well-preserved lumen.
b. Contrast enhanced CT image shows the central low attenuated mass (arrows) relative to the liver with peripheral rim enhancement. There are multiple enlarged and conglomerated lymph nodes (arrowheads) with peripheral rim enhancement at hepaticoduodenal ligament.
c-f. The well-defined gallbladder mass (white arrow) at fundus portion and conglomerated lymphadenopathy (arrowheads) was shown as a large low signal intensity solid mass on T1-weighted image (c) and slightly high signal intensity relative to the liver parenchyma on T2-weighted axial (d) and coronal image (e). There was no invasion to the hepatic parenchyma. Gadolinium enhanced T1-weighted MR image (f) shows this mass (white arrow) with peripheral rim enhancement. The lumen of the gallbladder (black arrow) is relatively preserved and showed high signal intensity on T1-weighted image (c). There are multiple enlarged lymph nodes (arrowheads) at hepatoduodenal ligament and no hepatic metastasis was noted.
jksmrm-16-266-g001

Notes

This work was supported by Wonkwang Institute of Clinical Medicine 2012.

References

1. Lee MH, Park TJ, Lee HW, et al. Small cell carcinoma of the gall bladder. Two case reports. Korean J Med. 2007. 73:1022–1028.
2. Albores-Saavedra J, Cruz-Ortis H, Alcantra-Vazques A, Henson DE. Unusal types of gallbladder carcinoma. A report of 16 cases. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1981. 105:287–293.
3. Kuwabara H, Uda H. Small cell carcinoma of the gall-bladder with intestinal metaplastic epithelium. Pathol Int. 1998. 48:303–306.
4. Moskal TL, Zhang PJ, Nava HR. Small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder. J Surg Oncol. 1999. 70:54–59.
5. Cavazzana AO, Fassina AS, Tollot M, Ninfo V. Small-cell carcinoma of gallbladder. An immunocytochemical and ultrasrtuctural study. Pathol Res Pract. 1991. 187:472–476.
6. Choi WB, Lee TY, Lee NW, et al. A case of small cell carcinoma of gallbladder. Korean J Med. 1997. 53:847–852.
7. Obuz F, Altay C, Sagol O, Astarcioglu H, Oztop I, Igci E. MDCT findings in neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder: case report. Abdom Imaging. 2007. 32:105–107.
8. Ahn JE, Byun JH, Ko MS, Park SH, Lee MG. Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder causing hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia. Clinical Radiology. 2007. 62:391–394.
TOOLS
Similar articles