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Review
. 2020 Oct 20;20(1):246.
doi: 10.1186/s12893-020-00905-6.

Synchronous hepatocellular carcinoma and gallbladder adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation: a case report and literature review

Yan Xu  1 , Quan-Ning Chen  1 , Hui Wang  1 , Nan-Bin Liu  1 , Bao-Min Shi  2
Affiliations
Review

Synchronous hepatocellular carcinoma and gallbladder adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation: a case report and literature review

Yan Xu et al. BMC Surg. .

Abstract

Background: Double primary cancers have a low incidence rate, and synchronous hepatocellular carcinoma and gallbladder adenocarcinoma are rarely reported. Here, we report such a case- the 12th case of synchronous double primary cancers featuring HCC and GC, but the first case of neuroendocrine differentiation in the gallbladder.

Case presentation: A 77-year-old female was admitted to the hospital complaining of weakness and inappetence for six months. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen indicated an 11 cm space-occupying lesion in the right lobe of the liver. Later, magnetic resonance imaging showed a high possibility of a massive hepatoma, and multiple gallstones were also seen. After transhepatic arterial chemoembolization, a repeat abdominal CT showed obvious local nodular thickening in the gallbladder wall. Finally, resection of the right lobe of the liver and cholecystectomy were performed. During an approximately 2-year follow-up, the patient recovered uneventfully without recurrence or metastasis.

Conclusion: The disease in this case is rare and lacked typical radiological features. More precise and advanced diagnostic techniques are needed to obtain a clear diagnosis and refine treatment strategies. The management strategy should always be curative, even in the presence of multiple malignancies.

Keywords: Case report; Gallbladder cancer; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Synchronous double primary cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Abdominal MRI showed an 8.9 × 12.3 cm-sized mass, gallstones and slightly local nodular thickening in the gallbladder wall; a and c T1W images, b and d T2W images
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Abdominal CT images after TACE to observe the hepatoma. a Plain scan, b arterial phase, c venous phase, d coronal plane
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Abdominal CT images after TACE to observe the gallbladder mainly. a Arterial phase (white arrow indicating nodular thickening in the gallbladder wall), b venous phase
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Intraoperative findings: the tumor located in the right lobe of the liver involved segments V, VI, VII, and VIII and partially invaded the right diaphragm
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Postoperative histopathological examination of the resected specimen (hematoxylin and eosin stain, × 400). a Moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma, b poorly differentiated gallbladder adenocarcinoma accompanied by neuroendocrine differentiation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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