Abstract
Many reports in Japan show early gallbladder tumor invasion to the mucosa or proper muscle layer. We recently experienced two cases of early gallbladder cancer who were successfully diagnosed by ultrasound.
Case I was a 76-year-old woman who complained of r-hypochondralgia. Ultrasonographically, irregular, weak, mass echo was detected from the body to the neck of the gallbladder. The tumor was suspected of being malignant; thus cholecystectomy and lymph node dissection were performed. Pathologically, it was well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder, invading to the depth of the proper muscle layer but without lymph node metastasis.
Case II was a 35-year-old man who complained of r-hypochondralgia. Ultrasound showed some stones and an irregular tumor 1.2×1.5cm in diameter without acoustic shadow. Papillotubular adenocarcinoma was found only in the mucosal layer with no lymph node metastasis.
