[Malignant melanoma of the gallbladder]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Secondary involvement of the gallbladder by melanoma is exceptionally rare.
• Cutaneous melanoma is a common primary malignancy with a known potential for distant metastasis.

Observation:

• A patient with a history of cutaneous melanoma presented with symptoms suggestive of biliary tract pathology.
• Laparotomy revealed secondary melanoma in the gallbladder, pancreas, and omentum.

Findings:

• The gallbladder melanoma was secondary to a primary cutaneous melanoma of the right leg, diagnosed four years earlier.
• Metastatic disease was confirmed in the pancreas and omentum.
• Post-cholecystectomy, the patient experienced accelerated cancer progression, leading to death within one year.

Implications:

• This case highlights the aggressive nature and unusual metastatic patterns of melanoma.
• It underscores the importance of considering rare metastatic sites in patients with a history of melanoma.
• Further literature review is warranted to understand the rarity and clinical course of secondary gallbladder melanoma.