Carcinoma gallbladder: atypical presentations and unusual associations

Patients with carcinoma of the gall bladder (CaGB) may have atypical presentations and unusual associations. Out of 324 patients with CaGB seen at a tertiary referral center in northern India, 26 (8%) had atypical clinical presentations and 34 (10%) had unusual associations. The atypical presentations were empyema (5), acute cholecystitis (3), post-cholecystectomy benign biliary stricture (3), carcinoma of the head of pancreas (3), gastric outlet obstructions (2) and liver abscess (1). Unusual associations were common bile duct stones (18), left supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (11), Mirizzi's syndrome (3), inguinal lymph node metastasis (1) and umbilical metastasis (1). Majority of these patients had advanced disease and curative resection was not possible; a worthwhile palliation was however possible in the majority.