[Carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder]

The authors analyse and comment on a case of carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder which they have recently observed. Given the rarity of this form of cancer, it is interesting to note that this case presents some peculiar aspects which have not been recorded in the few cases previously published on the subject. The peculiarities are such that they require a revision of what have until now been considered as intrinsic characteristics in the clinical observation of this kind of cancer. The authors maintain that the peculiarities of this case concern: a) the clinic onset of the illness and the relative aspecific symptomatology: b) that fact that laboratory tests did not signal any biochemical alteration; c) that the instrumental investigation's results pointed toward a non neoplastic pathology; d) that even the intra-operatory examination did not reveal any suspicious element; and last but by no means least the good survival of the patient which is definitely superior to other cases already reported in literature. The neoplasia, which manifested itself through a hemorrhage in the gallbladder, represented in fact the very initial stage of the illness, a condition rarely observed.