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Gallbladder Cancer Concomitant With Para-Aortic Paraganglioma: A Case Report
Hisashi Murakami1, Satoshi Okubo1, Yutaro Naka1
1Department of Gastroenterological Surgery Toranomon Hospital Minato-Ku Tokyo Japan.
Clinical Case Reports
|October 2, 2025
Summary
This case highlights a rare instance where a para-aortic mass initially suspected as gallbladder cancer metastasis was diagnosed as paraganglioma (PGL). Accurate preoperative evaluation and intraoperative pathology are crucial for distinguishing these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Pathology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Gallbladder cancer frequently has a poor prognosis and can metastasize to para-aortic lymph nodes.
- Accurate diagnosis of para-aortic masses in gallbladder cancer patients is critical for treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of gallbladder adenocarcinoma with a coexisting para-aortic paraganglioma.
- To emphasize the importance of differentiating para-aortic masses in gallbladder cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Case presentation of an 86-year-old male with suspected para-aortic lymph node metastasis from gallbladder cancer.
- Intraoperative pathology to identify the para-aortic mass.
- Surgical resection of both gallbladder tumor and para-aortic mass.
Main Results:
- The para-aortic mass was diagnosed as paraganglioma (PGL), not metastasis.
- Both gallbladder adenocarcinoma (pT1aN0M0, Stage I) and para-aortic PGL were successfully resected.
- The patient remained recurrence-free for 18 months post-surgery.
Conclusions:
- Para-aortic paraganglioma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of para-aortic masses in gallbladder cancer patients.
- Preoperative imaging (PET-CT) and biopsy (EUS-FNB) can improve diagnostic accuracy.
- Intraoperative pathology is invaluable for guiding surgical decisions in complex cases.
