A Case of Advanced Carcinosarcoma of the Gallbladder

Abstract

We report a rare case of so-called carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder. A 54-year-old woman, reporting postprandial right upper abdominal pain and referred for treatment of an intra abdominal tumor of unknown origin was suspected preoperatively of having advanced transverse colon cancer invading the gallbladder and duodenum. Because the gallbladder and duodenum were obviously involved in the giant tumor, we conducted right hemicolectomy, extended cholecystectomy (common bile duct preservation), and partial resection of the duodenum. Histological examination showed that the tumor consisted of two different cell types; poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and spindle-cell sarcoma with differentiation to cartilage and partly bone. Both types of tumor cells transferred each other. Spindle-shaped tumor cells around cartilage were positive for keratin. This histological evidence, led to a definitive diagnosis of so-called carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder.