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[A Case of Gallbladder Metastasis from Breast Cancer with Acute Calculous Cholecystitis]
Chihoko Nobori1, Shintaro Kodai, Akishige Kanazawa
1Dept. of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Osaka City General Hospital.
Insights
Gallbladder metastasis from breast cancer is rare but possible in advanced cases. This case highlights the importance of considering metastatic disease in patients with gallbladder symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Advanced breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Hormonal therapy for metastatic breast cancer.
Observation:
- A 75-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer presented with right upper quadrant pain.
- Initial diagnosis of acute calculous cholecystitis.
- Emergency percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (PTGBD) followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Findings:
- Pathological examination confirmed gallbladder metastasis from breast cancer.
- The patient had widespread metastatic disease including axillary lymph node, bone, gastric, and pleural sites.
Implications:
- Gallbladder metastasis should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients with advanced breast cancer presenting with cholecystitis symptoms.
- This case underscores the importance of thorough pathological examination in suspected gallbladder disease, especially in cancer patients.
Abstract:
In June 2018, a 75-year-old woman was admitted for right upper quadrant pain. She had a history of radical mastectomy for left breast cancer in April 2009. The axillary lymph node, bone, gastric, and pleural metastases had been treated with hormonal therapy for 2 years from April 2016. Based on the examination findings, we diagnosed her with acute calculous cholecystitis and performed emergency percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage(PTGBD). Eleven days after PTGBD, we performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Pathological examination revealed a metastatic tumor from breast cancer in her gallbladder. Although her postoperative course was uneventful, the patient died of progression of the other organ metastasis 7 months after cholecystectomy. Gallbladder metastasis should be considered in patients with advanced breast cancer who present symptoms of cholecystitis.
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