Subcutaneous periumbilical metastasis of a gallbladder carcinoma after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract

The frequency of gallbladder carcinoma is 1.2 to 7.4% of all cholecystectomy specimens. In open cholecystectomy for gallstone disease, undetected gallbladder carcinoma is found postoperatively in the histological examination in 0.3%. Tumor cells of these clinically inapparent gallbladder carcinomas can be implanted at the trocar sites during laparoscopic cholecystectomies. We report a case with subcutaneous tumor seeding at the navel trocar insertion site in a 65-year-old woman.