title: Primary melanoma of the gallbladder: does it exist? Report of a case and review of the literature.
abstract: With the occasion of a case of malignant melanoma of the gallbladder, which appeared to be primary, we have reviewed the literature and the result of this research was that primary melanoma of the gallbladder remains a questionable medical entity. Only few cases of both primary and metastatic gallbladder melanoma have been reported so far, and the only agreement is that surgery is the mainstay treatment. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy, hormonotherapy or immunotherapy for both primary and metastatic disease remains undefined.
authors.affiliation: Department of Propedeutic Surgery, School of Medicine, Athens University, Laiko Hospital, Greece. stamatakosmih@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Michail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safioleas
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agapitos
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kontzoglou
authors.forename: Michail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamatakos
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Safioleas
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mouzopoulos
authors.forename: Alkiviadis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kostakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography