Multiple metastatic malignant melanoma presenting intraluminal gallbladder bleeding
Hisashi Onozawa1, Motonobu Saito, Sayaka Yoshida
11 Department of Surgery and 2Department of Pathology, Hoshi General Hospital, Koriyama, Japan.
International Surgery
|September 13, 2014
Summary
Malignant melanoma metastasized to the gallbladder, causing bleeding and acute cholecystitis. This rare case highlights gallbladder metastasis as a potential cause of hemobilia.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
- Pathology
Background:
- Malignant melanoma is a potentially aggressive skin cancer that can metastasize to distant organs.
- Metastasis to the gallbladder is rare, and even rarer when presenting as the primary site of symptoms.
Observation:
- A 58-year-old woman presented with symptoms of acute cholecystitis and hemobilia.
- Imaging revealed a gallbladder mass, and the patient was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic malignant melanoma.
Findings:
- Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed, revealing a pedunculated black mass consistent with malignant melanoma.
- Pathologic and immunohistochemical analyses confirmed gallbladder malignant melanoma.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering metastatic disease, particularly malignant melanoma, in the differential diagnosis of gallbladder pathology and hemobilia.
- Multidisciplinary treatment approaches are crucial for managing such complex cases.
