title: Small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder combined with adenocarcinoma.
abstract: A rare case of small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the gallbladder combined with adenocarcinoma is reported. The patient was a 70-year-old Japanese man, who died of the disease shortly after the onset of symptoms. Autopsy disclosed a small tumor (1.0 cm in longest diameter) in the fundus of the gallbladder, with widespread metastasis. Histochemically, the tumor cells showed negative reactions for argyrophilic and argentaffin stainings, a weak immunohistochemical reaction only for neuron-specific enolase, and negative reactions for all of the other neurosecretory markers used, including neurofilament, chromogranin, somatostatin, gastrin and leu-7. However, electron microscopic examination revealed a few typical neurosecretory granules (NSG) in the cytoplasm of some tumor cells. We suggest that: 1. The presence of NSG in the cytoplasm of tumor cells is the most reliable diagnostic criterion for SCC. 2. SCC, at least the combined type, arises from a multipotential stem cell.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishigame
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shigematsu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000368:Aged; D001344:Autopsy; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase