A rare case of early carcinoma of the gallbladder

A 38-year-old woman was diagnosed preoperatively to have a benign polyp of the gallbladder with a delineated polypoid mass, as demonstrated with drip infusion cholangiography and ultrasonography. Cholecystectomy was performed. Postoperatively, however, this tumor proved to be an early stage carcinoma of the gallbladder. In the neck of the gallbladder, there was a protruded polypoid elastic tumor of 1.1 X 0.9 cm in width and 2.5 cm in height. The tumor was supported by a stem of 0.1 cm in diameter and 0.2 cm in height. Histopathological examination revealed a well differentiated papillotubular adenocarcinoma, which exhibited no invasion of the stem itself or its basal region. This is a rare case of early carcinoma of the gallbladder (Stage I) which grew only towards the lumen of the gallbladder cavity, and did not invade the wall. Postoperatively, cholecystectomy alone was thought to be sufficient for cure.