Malignant melanoma of the gallbladder: a report of two cases and review of the literature

Metastatic melanoma of the gallbladder: A case report and systematic review

We report a case of metastatic melanoma of the gallbladder diagnosed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound and systematically review the characteristics of transabdominal ultrasound, clinical manifestations, and treatment methods of gallbladder metastatic melanoma in order to provide reference ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic melanoma of gallbladder.

Primary gallbladder melanoma: A systematic review of literature

Primary gallbladder melanoma (PGM) is a rare malignancy with only sporadic cases reported in the English literature. We performed a systematic review of the cases published in the PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases with the aim of describing the reported clinicopathologic features of PGM. Thirty-six articles reporting on 39 patients were reviewed. There was a male predominance, with 23 (64 %) of 36 patients being males. The mean age at presentation was 55 ±16 years. Pain in the right upper quadrant was reported in 20/27 (74 %). The average size of the tumor was 3.5 × 1.9 × 1.4 cm. Gallbladder calculi were reported in 7/27 (26 %). A cholecystectomy was performed in 34/38 (89.5 %). Grossly, the tumor mostly (96.5 %) had polypoid appearances and on microscopic examination, the tumor were predominantly comprised of epithelioid cells 12/17 (70.6 %). Mitotic figures and prominent nucleoli were reportedly found in 8/8 (100 %) and 3/3 (100 %) respectively. Junctional melanocytic components were present in 13/21 (61.9 %). Tumor cells were reportedly immunoreactive for S-100 and HMB-45 in all tested cases. Metastasis were reported in 25/36 (69.4 %), with lymph nodes being the most common site (n = 8), followed by brain (n = 6) and liver (n = 4) for metastasis. At a mean follow-up period of 19 +/- 3 months, 16 (48.5 %) of the 33 patients with available survival data were alive and 17/33 (51.5 %) were dead of disease. There is a lack of unified criteria for the diagnosis of PGM, and future studies should aim to resolve this.

Trocar Site Recurrence after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Unsuspected Isolated Gallbladder Metastasis of Melanoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Cutaneous melanoma can metastasize to almost any organ, including in-transit metastases, lymph nodes, liver, lungs, brain, and bones. Spread to the gastrointestinal tract is less common and generally concerns the small bowel, colon, and stomach. Gallbladder involvement is rarer, and only few cases describe it as the sole site of metastasis upon diagnosis. Melanoma metastases to the gallbladder are usually detected on staging or surveillance imaging, as patients usually show few or no symptoms. In resectable stage IV melanoma patients, complete surgical resection appears to improve the prognosis. However, due to the rarity of isolated gallbladder metastasis of melanoma, there are no guidelines regarding the optimal surgical approach (endoscopic or open cholecystectomy). Here, we report the case of isolated gallbladder melanoma metastasis found after laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in a 46-year-old female patient with no known history of cancer presenting with acute cholecystitis symptoms. Six weeks after surgery, the patient developed trocar site recurrence. This case highlights the importance of a planned and open surgery for resectable melanoma metastases rather than a laparoscopic approach.

Role of minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of gallbladder metastatic melanoma. A review of the literature and a case report

Background

Primary and secondary gallbladder melanomas are rare, and only 58 cases have been reported in scientific literature to date. This paper aimed to explore the role of minimally invasive surgery in the management of gallbladder metastatic melanomas.

Case

Herein, we present the case of a 68‐year‐old man with metastatic gallbladder melanoma who was treated with laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Our case management was then compared with that of other cases reported in the literature.

Conclusion

Currently, metastatic melanomas can be considered as a potentially curable disease. Palliation of symptoms and fast recovery following minimally invasive procedures could be beneficial for these patients. Particularly, laparoscopic procedures appear to prolong the survival of gallbladder melanoma patients.

Imaging of gallbladder metastasis

Gallbladder metastasis (GM) is a rare condition, often with a late diagnosis or detected upon autopsy. There is no extensive literature on the imaging diagnosis of GM. Here we present a comprehensive review of the literature with the aim of helping to interpret the clinical findings and imaging features of such patients. Few studies on GM are reported in literature. GM by melanoma accounts for about 55.6% of cases. The remaining cases origin from breast cancer (13.6%), hepatocellular carcinoma (13.6%), renal cell carcinoma (6.8%), lung cancer (4.5%), lymphoma (3.5%) and gastric cancer (2.4%). The most common clinical presentation of GM is abdominal pain from cholecystitis due to obstruction of the cystic duct. The main ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings that clinicians and radiologists should consider in their everyday medical activity were discussed. The diagnosis of GM was often achieved through a combination of more than one imaging modality. In more than 90% of cases, the diagnosis of GM is often late and combined with other organs involvement in the terminal stage of the malignancy. The knowledge of the clinical features and different imaging techniques through careful evaluation of the gallbladder can help to achieve early diagnosis and avoid misdiagnosis or false negative results.

Malignant metastatic melanoma to the gallbladder: Report of a peculiar case

INTRODUCTION

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and one of the fastest growing types of cancer. The occurrence of a malignant melanoma in the gastrointestinal tract, either primary or metastatic, is a rare event. Metastatis from cutaneous malignant melanoma to the gallbladder are a highly uncommon finding, usually associated with diffuse metastatic disease and observed during autopsy. The event of a solitary metastasis of malignant melanoma to gallbladder is barely reported.

CASE REPORT

We report a case of a 35-year old Caucasian woman with isolated metastasis of gallbladder from cutaneous primary malignant melanoma managed with laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

DISCUSSION

Gallbladder metastasis as a first site of recurrence represents a rare condition for all cancers. Since the occurrence of an isolated gallbladder metastasis of cutaneous melanoma is an uncommon circumstance, no therapeutic guidelines have yet been proposed. Nevertheless cholecystectomy appears to be the standard of care for the treatment of this unusual condition, especially when symptomatic and for palliative purpose. The surgical approach is still debated, with no unanimous consent between mini-invasive surgery and open technique.

CONCLUSION

In our case, we decided to carry out a three-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy, preferring a mini-invasive approach considering the good performance status of our patient and her young age.

Isolated gallbladder metastasis of melanoma: Case report

BACKGROUND

Although metastatic melanoma is most frequently found in liver, lungs, and brain, most metastases found in the gallbladder are from melanoma. Here, we present a case of isolated metastatic melanoma found during cholecystectomy.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

74-year-old male with a personal history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and arrhythmia. A skin lesion was found on the right malar region. An excisional biopsy was performed and histopathological examination showed an ulcerated nodular-type malignant melanoma, Breslow 7.6 mm, Clark IV. Surgical excision with margins of 2 cm and sentinel lymph-node biopsy was carried and were negative. Abdominal sonography at 6 months showed an 18 mm solid mass adhered to the wall of the gallbladder that was suggestive of a polyp. Thorax-abdomen-pelvis CT showed no abnormalities. The gallbladder lesion had increased in volume on the following sonography and therefore, cholecystectomy was performed. Histopathological study revealed melanoma infiltrating the mucosa and muscular layer. Written informed consent was previously obtained, and Institutional Review Board approval was not needed.

DISCUSSION

Isolated metastatic melanoma in the gallbladder is uncommon. Follow-up controls with images are important in the diagnosis. As most metastatic melanoma to the gallbladder are asymptomatic, surgeons should have high level of suspicion. Cholecystectomy could prolong survival in these patients.

CONCLUSION

Isolated gallbladder metastasis of melanoma is an uncommon presentation of this disease. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is an adequate procedure in this particular situation and may improve patient survival. The presentation of this case may help surgeons to maintain a high level of suspicion regarding the condition.

Metastatic cutaneus melanoma of the gallbladder: Case report

Melanoma is an aggressive malignant tumor that originates from melanocytes and most commonly occurs on the skin. Dominantly metastasize to regional lymph nodes, in the brain and lungs and rarely in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. The aim of this report is to present a rare case of metastasis of cutaneous malignant melanoma in the gallbladder, discovered 10 months after excision of the primary melanoma of the skin. A45-year-old patient was hospitalized in our hospital due to abdominal pain in right upper quadrant and nausea lasting for 7 days. An intraluminal substrate was found in the gallbladder with computed tomography and later a CT guied biopsy was performed on it, thus proving a metastatic deposit of primary malignant melanoma. Metastatic deposits in the gallbladder are extremely rare finding, and 238 cases have been described in the literature.

Metastatic Melanoma of the Gallbladder in an Asymptomatic Patient

Malignant Melanoma (MM) is among the most dangerous malignancies with some of the least known survival rates. Melanoma most commonly metastasizes to regional lymph nodes, the lungs, and brain. Metastatic disease of the gallbladder (GB) is exceptionally rare making it difficult to diagnose. The fact that typically patients do not present until they are symptomatic—only after widespread metastatic disease has already occurred—is further complicating the diagnosis of MM of the GB. For this reason, MM of the GB is rarely discovered in living patients. In fact, review of the literature showed only 40 instances in which metastatic disease of the GB was reported in living patients. We describe the presentation and management of a patient who had metastatic disease of the GB. However, our case is unique because his malignancy was discovered incidentally while he was asymptomatic. He was successfully treated with an open cholecystectomy. We have presented this case in order to make the necessity of meticulous investigation of potential metastasis in patients with a known history of cutaneous melanoma clear.

Metastatic Cutaneous Melanoma of the Gallbladder

Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive disease that can spread to many organs of the body. In rare cases, it can spread to the gallbladder causing secondary lesions, yet presenting with little to no symptoms. Therefore, most cases of metastatic melanoma lesions to the gallbladder go undiagnosed. Here, we present the case of a 41-year-old male with a four-month history of melanoma of the face, with a postresection status, who presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Doppler ultrasound and computed tomography confirmed the presence of a mass on the gallbladder. Laparoscopic excision along with liver wedge resection was performed. Pathology staining revealed the presence of a malignant metastatic melanoma lesion of the gallbladder.

Isolated Gallbladder Intramucosal Metastatic Melanoma With Features Mimicking Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma

Malignant melanoma has a variety of morphologic patterns and can metastasize and mimic any type of neoplastic process creating significant diagnostic difficulty. When metastasis to the gastrointestinal system is identified, it is most commonly associated with widely metastatic disease. We report a rare case of isolated gallbladder intramucosal metastatic melanoma with features mimicking lymphoepithelial carcinoma in an adult patient who presented with cholecystitis. Additionally, we report the imaging and morphologic features and discuss the importance of these findings along with a clear clinical history and immunohistochemical profile to make a definitive diagnosis.

Metastatic melanoma of the gallbladder: report of two cases and a review of the literature

Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and highly metastatic cancers. The most common sites of distant metastases are soft tissues, lung, liver, skin and brain, whereas only few patients develop gastrointestinal metastases. Metastatic involvement of the gallbladder is rare and more often part of a widespread disease than a solitary lesion. The "gold-standard" treatment of metastatic melanoma of the gallbladder remains unclear. We report two cases of patients with past history of cutaneous melanoma who developed visceral metastases. The first patient was asymptomatic and had a widespread disease with metastatic involvement of both the spleen and the gallbladder. The second patient had an isolated metastasis of the gallbladder and complained of upper abdominal pain. The chosen treatment was open cholecystectomy (and splenectomy) in the first case and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the second. A review of the literature is provided.

Primary malignant melanoma of the gallbladder: a case report and review of the literature

Malignant melanoma is characterized by the ability of diffuse metastases. Since the first report of an isolated malignant melanoma case of the gallbladder, it is already controversial whether isolated cases are metastatic or primary tumors. A 49-year-old woman appealed to the emergency unit because of abdominal pain. Ultrasonography revealed increased thickness of the gallbladder wall and a lesion with surrounding fluid sized 12 mm without acoustic shadow, which arose from the gallbladder wall and was consistent with a polyp. Histopathologic evaluation of the surgical specimen after laparoscopic cholecystectomy revealed malign epithelial tumor consisting of atypical cells with large eosinophilic cytoplasm and dense melanin pigment within the cytoplasm of the tumor cells. As no other focus was identified as a result of the evaluation, the patient was diagnosed with primary malignant melanoma of the gallbladder. In this paper, we aimed to define our treatment modality for a case with isolated malignant melanoma of the gallbladder.

Indications and recommended approach for surgical intervention of metastatic disease to the gallbladder

Metastatic disease to the gallbladder is unusual. The most common malignancy metastatic to the gallbladder is melanoma, followed by renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and breast cancer. Due to the unusual nature of the disease, there are no trials available for review. Thus, the management for these patients has been based on institutional experience and review of case series. The indications for surgical intervention for melanoma are metastatic disease discrete to the gallbladder and biliary symptoms, which are uncommon for melanoma, but might occur due to cystic duct obstruction culminating in cholecystitis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy without a lymphadenectomy is emerging as the preferred approach for this metastatic deposit. The vast majority of patients with metastases to the gallbladder from RCC carry a good prognosis and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be considered. Patients with metastases to the gallbladder from the breast classically present with biliary symptoms and commonly undergo a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which invariably demonstrates a deposit in the gallbladder from lobular breast cancer. In the present report, we review the indications for surgical intervention from various malignancies metastatic to the gallbladder and the current consensus for the laparoscopic approach from the diverse metastatic deposits to the gallbladder.