A case of neuroendocrine carcinoma of gallbladder

Abstract

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) rarely occurs in gallbladder. We report one case of NEC in gallbladder treated with chemotherapy. It was difficult to performe definitive operation because of multiple lymph node swelling. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) was useful for histological diagnosis of NEC. For definite diagnosis, the patient underwent cholecystectomy and biopsy of enlarged lymph node by opening abdomen. Pathological examination revealed there was not any adenocarcinoma lesion, but only NEC lesion. In MRI, high b-value diffusion weighted image (DWI) revealed high intensity, which may reflect high cellular density of NEC. This patient was recieved etoposide plus cisplatin therapy, and stable disease was achieved. Accumulation of cases is necessary for establishment of the guidline of diagnosis and chemotherapy in NEC of gallbladder.