Synchronous adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon, the gallbladder and the vermiform appendix

Abstract

According to the literature synchronous adenocarcinomas of both, the colon and the gallbladder or the colon and the appendix are extremely unusual. To our knowledge the simultaneous occurrence of all three tumors has never been published before. Preoperative diagnosis of early stage tumors of the gallbladder and the vermiform appendix is also made very seldom. The following case report records an instance of synchronous adenocarcinomas of the gallbladder, the transverse colon, in a colonic polyp and the appendix. Owing to the patient's advanced age simultane cancer occurrence may be mere coincidence. Nevertheless, this extremely rare entity could also be ascribed to a genetic defect or an unknown carcinogenic agent.