Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder mimicking minimal deviation adenocarcinoma of the cervix.
We report a case of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder, histologically mimicking minimal deviation adenocarcinoma (MDA) of the cervix. A 71-year-old Japanese male underwent cholecystectomy because of the suggestion of gallbladder carcinoma. The resected gallbladder showed a localized thickening of the gallbladder wall with a polypoid lesion measuring 12x7 mm in diameter. Microscopically, the polypoid lesion proved to be a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma composed of columnar cells with a clear cytoplasm. In the thickened gallbladder wall, well-formed glands were extensively distributed; they were surrounded by a slightly desmoplastic reaction instead of lamina propria, or were directly in contact with smooth muscle cells. The diagnostic criteria for cervical MDA may be useful in distinguishing well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder from benign conditions, such as Rokitansky-Aschoff sinus and adenomyomatosis. It is remarkable that the tumor cells of the present case expressed gastric type mucin which is characteristic of mucinous type cervical MDA.
Tashiro
T
T
Department of Pathology, University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Japan. ktashi@basic.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
Hirokawa
M
M
Horiguchi
H
H
Wakatsuki
S
S
Sano
T
T
Yada
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*