A rare case report of gallbladder carcinosarcoma

Carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder (CSGB) is a rare clinical condition. To date, only 107 cases of CSGB have been reported worldwide. We present our experience of a late presentation of disseminated CSGB. To this we add a discussion of prognostic factors and treatment options for this rare gallbladder malignancy drawn from CSGB cases reported in the literature. Case report: A 73-year-old female presented to our facility with a poorly differentiated CSGB with widespread liver and peritoneal metastases. Fifteen days from the time of hospital admission, the patient suffered an acute episode of massive haematemesis with clinical signs of perforated viscous. Her cause of death was thought to be a tumour-related duodenal erosion. Discussion: Given the poor prognosis of CSGB, particularly when diagnosed at locally advanced or disseminated stages, we suggest a greater role for laparoscopic tissue diagnosis before considering radical surgical intervention.