Carcinoid tumour of gall bladder--a case report
Mriganka Ghosh1, Nirmal Kumar Bhattacharyya, Soumita Ghoshsengupta
1Department of Pathology, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital Sushrutanagar 734012.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association
|October 21, 2011
Summary
Gall bladder carcinoid tumors are rare and often asymptomatic, frequently diagnosed post-surgery. Malignancy determination requires assessing invasion, not just cell appearance, highlighting the need for classification standards.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Endocrinology
- Surgical Pathology
Background:
- Gall bladder carcinoid tumors represent less than 1% of all carcinoid tumors.
- These rare tumors often present without specific symptoms or carcinoid syndrome, complicating early detection.
Observation:
- A case report details a 35-year-old woman with gall bladder carcinoid diagnosed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones.
- Comparative evaluations were conducted between carcinoid and variant groups (endocrinomas) and typical versus atypical carcinoid series.
Findings:
- Traditional malignancy indicators like anaplasia and mitotic figures are unreliable for gall bladder carcinoid tumors.
- Tumor invasion into adjacent structures is a more reliable determinant of malignancy in these cases.
Implications:
- The rarity and diagnostic ambiguity of gall bladder carcinoid tumors necessitate further documentation.
- International consensus and standardized criteria are crucial for the accurate classification of these endocrine carcinomas.
