Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2018 Aug 1;5(1):20180032.
doi: 10.1259/bjrcr.20180032. eCollection 2019 Feb.

Gallbladder and small bowel metastasis of regressive melanoma: a case report

Giulia R Ercolino  1 , Giuseppe Guglielmi, Luca Pazienza  2 , Filomena Urbano  2 , Diego Palladino  2 , Anna Simeone  2
Affiliations

Gallbladder and small bowel metastasis of regressive melanoma: a case report

Giulia R Ercolino et al. BJR Case Rep. .

Abstract

Malignant melanoma development in gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be primary or secondary. Although small bowel, colon and stomach represent common GI sites affected from metastatic cutaneous malignant melanoma (cMM), more than 90% of the cases are identified only during autoptic examinations. Therefore, the diagnosis in a living patient of gallbladder metastasis from cMM is considered extremely rare. We aimed to describe a case of metastatic melanoma involving the gallbladder, the stomach and the small bowel in a 78-year-old male with diffuse abdominal pain and a history of cMM of the back, which was radically resected 4 years before. Abdominal ultrasound showed intracholecystic multiple nodulations. CT, besides confirming the gallbladder nodules, revealed multiple masses in the stomach, duodenum and ileum. Malignant melanoma lesions were confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of bioptic material obtained from endoscopic examination. In patients with history of melanoma, careful inspection of GI tract should be prompted adopting adequate imaging techniques and endoscopy in order to better influence treatment planning and prognosis.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Hepatobiliary ultrasound. Hyperechoic masses involving the gallbladder fundus, body and neck; the parietal lesions with minimal to absent acoustic shadowing.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
(a–d) CECT, contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen . Multiple nodular lesions in the gallbladder show early intense enhancement followed by progressive washout .
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Abdominal CECT. Multiple solid masses in the stomach with early intense enhancement followed by progressive washout. CECT, contrast enhanced CT
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Abdominal CECT. Nodules in small bowel (arrows) with early intense enhancement followed by progressive washout. Peritoneal nodules (arrowhead) and mesenteric lymph nodes (thin arrow). CECT, contrast enhanced CT.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Abdominal CECT. Mesenteric lymph nodes (arrow) and pelvis ascites (thin arrow). CECT, contrast enhanced CT.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Thoracic CT. Pulmonary, solid, and bilateral nodules with no pleural effusion.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

    1. Schuchter LM, Green R, Fraker D. Primary and metastatic diseases in malignant melanoma of the gastrointestinal tract. Curr Opin Oncol 2000; 12: 181–5. doi: 10.1097/00001622-200003000-00014 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Serin G, Doğanavşargil B, Calişkan C, Akalin T, Sezak M, Tunçyürek M. Colonic malignant melanoma, primary or metastatic? Case report. Turk J Gastroenterol 2010; 21: 45–9. doi: 10.4318/tjg.2010.0048 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Marone U, Caracò C, Losito S, Daponte A, Chiofalo MG, Mori S, et al. . Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for melanoma metastatic to the gallbladder: is it an adequate surgical procedure? Report of a case and review of the literature. World J Surg Oncol 2007; 5: 141. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-5-141 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ettahri H, Elomrani F, Elkabous M, Rimani M, Boutayeb S, Mrabti H, et al. . Duodenal and gallbladder metastasis of regressive melanoma: a case report and review of the literature. J Gastrointest Oncol 2015; 6: E77–81. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2078-6891.2015.048 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. King DM. Imaging of metastatic melanoma. Cancer Imaging 2006; 6: 204–8. doi: 10.1102/1470-7330.2006.0033 - DOI - PMC - PubMed