Cancer of the gallbladder in a 9-year-old girl

Carcinoma of the gallbladder was found in a 9-year-old girl. The patient was transferred to our hospital because of an abdominal mass and right upper quadrant pain. X-ray cholecystography and ultrasonography were performed preoperatively. The ultrasonic scan showed a thickened wall and lack of contractility of the gallbladder. A laparotomy was performed under the diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis. At operation a peanut-sized nodule, in which adeno carcinoma was demonstrated by frozen section, was palpable at the neck of the gallbladder. Cholecystectomy was performed with T-tube drainage and postoperative chemotherapy was administered. The patient has had no evidence of tumour recurrence in 24 months of follow-up.