Gallbladder Burkitt's lymphoma mimicking gallbladder cancer: A case report

Malignant lymphoma is a rare form of gallbladder malignancy. Most of these malignancies are diffuse large B-cell lymphomas or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue-type lymphomas; however, Burkitt's lymphoma of the gallbladder is extremely rare, and only two previous reports are available in the literature. Herein, we report a rare case of Burkitt's lymphoma of the gallbladder mimicking gallbladder adenocarcinoma.

An 83-year-old man with no abdominal complaints was found to have a gallbladder tumor and periportal lymph node enlargement on computed tomography (CT) performed for hypertension screening. His laboratory data revealed slightly elevated serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen and soluble interleukin 2 receptor. Imaging examinations revealed two irregular and contrast-enhanced masses extending into the gallbladder lumen, but these did not infiltrate the serosa. Moreover, a periportal lymph node had enlarged to 30 mm. Based on these findings, we diagnosed the patient as having gallbladder adenocarcinoma with lymph node metastasis, which was treated using bile duct resection with gallbladder bed resection and periportal lymph node dissection. However, the patient was finally diagnosed as having Burkitt's lymphoma. Although the surgical margin was pathologically negative, recurrence was noted at the hepatic radical margin and superior pancreaticoduodenal lymph nodes on positron emission tomography/CT soon after discharge. Thus, he was referred to a hematologist and started receiving treatment with reduced-dose cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone.

Burkitt's lymphoma can occur in the gallbladder. Biopsy can be useful in cases with findings suggestive of gallbladder malignant lymphoma.