Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
Techniques of Laparoscopic Right Posterior Sectionectomy: Glissonian Approach and a Parenchymal Transection Technique
Published on: October 6, 2023
Successful resection of a neuroendocrine tumor in the gallbladder: a case report
Hideo Tomihara1, Kazuhiko Hashimoto2, Tomoko Wakasa3
1Department of Surgery, Kindai University Nara Hospital, Otoda-cho 1248-1, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0293, Japan.
Background:
Gallbladder neuroendocrine tumors (GB-NETs) are extremely rare, representing only 0.5% of all NETs because no neuroectodermal cells are present in the gallbladder. In 2019, the World Health Organization updated the classification of NETs based on their molecular differences. The mutation status of DAXX and ATRX has been added to the criteria for well-differentiated NETs.
Case Presentation:
A 50-year-old man presented to our hospital for further examination of a gallbladder polyp. He had no right quadrant pain, fever, jaundice, weight loss, or carcinoid syndrome-related symptoms. The patient hoped to avoid cholecystectomy. During the 3-year observation period, the polyp gradually increased in size from 8.3 to 9.9 mm. He decided to undergo surgery, and whole cholecystectomy was successfully performed. Immunohistochemical staining revealed positivity for chromogranin A, synaptophysin, and CD56. The Ki-67 index was < 3%. Taken together, these results led to a diagnosis of a grade 1 GB-NET. We also performed immunohistochemical staining of DAXX and ATRX, which revealed that DAXX protein expression was negative. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and he developed no recurrence for 8 years after surgery.
Conclusion:
We experienced a very rare case of GB-NET. Obtaining a correct preoperative diagnosis is quite difficult at the first evaluation. A GB-NET should be considered as a differential diagnosis of gallbladder tumors.
