Alpha-fetoprotein producing carcinoma of the gallbladder associated with anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system--early detection through an attack of acute pancreatitis.
A 56-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic tumor in the gallbladder. The serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was 971 ng/ml. After healing of the acute pancreatitis, the anomalous arrangement of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system (APDS) was demonstrated by ERCP with mild dilatation of the common bile duct. Within one month after admininon, AFP level reached 4390 ng/ml. On operation, a pedunculated tumor, 6.5 x 3 cm in size, was found in the gallbladder. Histological examination revealed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and positive immunohistochemical staining of cancer cells for AFP. After absolutely curative (stage II) resection, normal serum AFP levels were recognized. This is the first report of an AFP-producing cancer of the gallbladder associated with APDS and it was detected as a result of an attack of acute pancreatitis.
Ikeda
M
M
First Department of Medicine, Yamanashi University School of Medicine, Japan.
Okada
S
S
Morozumi
A
A
Fujino
M A
MA
Matsumoto
Y
Y
D000208:Acute Disease; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins