Isolated Gallbladder Intramucosal Metastatic Melanoma With Features Mimicking Lymphoepithelial Carcinoma

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.

Malignant melanoma located in the ureter and gallbladder: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

Melanoma is one of a common cutaneous malignancy. Currently, metastatic malignant melanoma is difficult to be diagnosed through imaging examinations. Furthermore, the incidence of metastatic melanoma affecting the gallbladder and ureter is exceptionally rare.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 54-year-old female was admitted to the hospital with a half-month history of left lower back pain. Correlative examination revealed an occupying lesion in the mid-left ureter and the neck of the gallbladder.

DIAGNOSES

The patient was initially diagnosed with gallbladder cancer and left ureteral carcinoma based on imaging. Following 2 operations, immunohistochemical staining confirmed the presence of metastatic melanoma involving both the gallbladder and ureter.

INTERVENTION

After multidisciplinary consultation and obtaining consent from the patient and her family, the patient underwent left radical nephroureterectomy, radical cholecystectomy, laparoscopic partial hepatectomy (Hep IV, Hep V), and lymph node dissection of hepatoduodenal ligament.

OUTCOMES

One month after treatment, the patient imaging showed no disease progression, and at 6 months of follow-up, the patient was still alive.

LESSONS

It is difficult to distinguish metastatic melanoma from carcinoma in situ by imaging. In addition, metastatic malignant melanoma lacks specific clinical manifestations and is prone to misdiagnosis, which emphasizes the highly aggressive nature of malignant melanoma.

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.

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.

Gallbladder and small bowel metastasis of regressive melanoma: a case report

Malignant melanoma development in gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be primary or secondary. Although small bowel, colon and stomach represent common GI sites affected from metastatic cutaneous malignant melanoma (cMM), more than 90% of the cases are identified only during autoptic examinations. Therefore, the diagnosis in a living patient of gallbladder metastasis from cMM is considered extremely rare. We aimed to describe a case of metastatic melanoma involving the gallbladder, the stomach and the small bowel in a 78-year-old male with diffuse abdominal pain and a history of cMM of the back, which was radically resected 4 years before. Abdominal ultrasound showed intracholecystic multiple nodulations. CT, besides confirming the gallbladder nodules, revealed multiple masses in the stomach, duodenum and ileum. Malignant melanoma lesions were confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of bioptic material obtained from endoscopic examination. In patients with history of melanoma, careful inspection of GI tract should be prompted adopting adequate imaging techniques and endoscopy in order to better influence treatment planning and prognosis.