[Morphological comparison between pm-carcinoma and minute ss-carcinoma of the gallbladder]

Eleven cases of pm-carcinoma and thirty cases of minute ss-carcinoma of the gallbladder were compared with their morphologies and biological behavior with reference to the assessment of pm-carcinoma as early carcinoma. The vascular permeation and lymph nodal metastasis was 9% and 0%, respectively, in the pm-carcinoma and 43% and 9% in the minute ss-carcinoma. The 5-year survival rate of the pm-carcinoma was better (100%) than the minute ss-carcinoma (73.3%). The poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or well differentiated adenocarcinoma with high grade atypia in the invasive-area was higher in incidence in the minute ss-carcinoma. From these findings it is concluded that the pm-carcinoma should be defined as early carcinoma in the gallbladder. The both carcinomas were hardly distinguishable macroscopically. Therefore, the careful examination of resected gallbladder by stepwise sections is important.