Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans

Humans ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/pathology* ; Liver Neoplasms/pathology* ; Immunotherapy

PURPOSE: Gallbladder cancer had poor prognosis because it is usually detected at a late stage. Some GB polyps are diagnosed as cancerous on the postoperative pathology. Because of the significance of the early detection of the cancer, the relationship between GB polyp and cancer is important. METHODS: From January 1994 to May, 2004, 94 cases of GB polypoid lesions were identified and diagnosed after cholecystectomy was performed at the Korea University Medical Center Anam hospital. The pateints' age, gender, the symptoms and signs, the diagnostic tools, the operative methods and the histopathologic findings were investigated. RESULTS: For the 94 patients, the mean age was 50.3+/-13.1 years and there were 42 males (44.7%). 92 patients were evaluated by abdominal ultrasonography, and it had a sensitivity of 72.8%. On the histopathologic results, there were 76 cases of benign polyps and 18 cases of malignant polyps. The diameter of the malignant polyps was 17.3+/-8.5 mm and the diameter of the benign polyps was 6.4+/-3.0 mm, so the malignant polyps were larger than the benign polyps. The mean age of the malignant polyp group was 62.6+/-14.2 years and the mean age of the benign polyp group was 47.1+/-11.1. The patients of the malignant polyp group were older than the patients of the benign polyp group. 19 GB polyps were greater than 10 mm in diameter and among them, there were 15 cases of malignant polyps (78.94%). CONCLUSION: The size of the polyps and the patient's age could be risk factors for malignant polyps, and the malignant potential was high for the polyps that exceeded 10 mm and for a patient age that exceeded 60 years. Surgical treatment is recommended for these patients.
Academic Medical Centers ; Cholecystectomy ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Pathology ; Polyps* ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Ultrasonography

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma is renowned for its potency to spread to almost any organ of the body; however metastasis to the gall bladder is very rare. We present a case of a 48 year old man who initially demonstrated renal cell carcinoma, and in who gallbladder metastasis was later detected. A review of the literature revealed only a small number of cases of renal cell carcinoma metastasizing to the gallbladder, and these were primary found upon necropsy. Gall-bladder metastasis in this case was detected clinically.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell/pathology/*secondary ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/pathology/*secondary ; Human ; Kidney Neoplasms/*pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

The polypoid lesions of gallbladder have explosively increased with enhanced feasibility of transabdominal ultrasonography. Most of small polyps less than 10 mm are benign and remain static for a long period. In small polyps, three to six month intervaled ultrasonography is warranted in the initial follow-up, but the duration of follow-up period is not clarified. The polypoid lesions larger than 10 mm show a quite different feature. They showed a remarkable risk of malignancy (34-88%) and should be treated by surgery. Furthermore, age more than 50 years and combined gallstone are important factors predicting malignancy in polypoid lesions of gallbladder. In addition, other factors including solitary polyp and the presence of symptoms are considered as risk factors. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a golden standard therapy for these polyps unless the suspicion of malignancy is high. The gallbladder polyps remain a problem of concern to both doctors and patient with the worry of malignancy. Thus, the comprehensive understanding of natural coruse of gallbladder polyp and risk factors of malignancy should be kept in mind.
Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Gallbladder Diseases/classification/*pathology/surgery ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/diagnosis ; Humans ; Polyps/classification/*pathology/surgery ; Risk Factors

Cyclins are the regulatory subunits of cyclin-dependent kinase and play an important role in cell proliferation. Many tumors, such as colon, breast and gastric carcinomas are known to be involved in the deregulation or amplification of cyclins, especially cyclin E, which involves the restriction point of G1-S transition. We investigated the expression of cyclin E in benign and malignant epithelial tumors of the gallbladder and compared the results with the activity of cell proliferation by the Ki67 antigen using immunohistochemical staining. Cyclin E was expressed in the adenocarcinoma tissue in 33.3% of patients (4 out of 12 cases), whereas only one out of 8 cases of adenoma expressed cyclin E (12.5%). There was a correlation between cyclin E expression and the Ki67 labeling index. These results suggest that the high expression of cyclin E in adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder is related to a high rate of cell proliferation.
Adenocarcinoma/pathology ; Adenocarcinoma/metabolism* ; Adenoma/pathology ; Adenoma/metabolism* ; Adult ; Aged ; Cyclin E/metabolism* ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/pathology ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Age

PURPOSE: Gallbladder polyps have malignant potentials and there are no definitive treatment criteria. Therefore, to establish the appropriate treatment for gallbladder polyps, the gross and microscopic appearance of gallbladder polyps were studied and the clinical findings analyzed. METHODS: Between January 1990 and December 1999, 1108 subjects underwent open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy at our institute. Seventy nine subjects, confirmed to have gallbladder polyps by pathology, were analyzed. To establish the surgical indications of polyps with malignancy potential, gender, age, clinical symptoms, polyp size, numbers, shape, coexistence of stones and the pathological findings were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects with benign and malignant polyps were 44.2 and 55.2 years old, respectively (p=0.034). The mean maximum diameter in benign and malignant polyps were 6.4 and 19.8 mm, respectively (p= 0.029). There were single polyps in 52.6 (30/57) and 86.3% (19/22) of the benign and malignant lesions, respectively (p= 0.046). Comparing the clinical symptoms (abdominal discomfort. etc) between the two groups, benign polyps had 26.3% (15/57), malignant polyps had 86.3% (19/22) (p= 0.0032). Cholesterol polyps were found in 29 (36.7%), inflammatory or hyperplastic polyps in 11 (13.9%) adenomas in 17 (21.5%) and adenocarcinomas in 22 (27.9%) cases. There were no differences in the presence of stones or in the shape of the polyps. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our analysis, when the polyp is of the single type, over 15 mm in diameter and the patient was 50 years old or over, surgical intervention should be considered due to the high risk of malignancy. If surgical intervention is not appropriated, a close follow-up is generally recommended to monitor the changes in the polyp size and shape.
Adenocarcinoma ; Adenoma ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic ; Cholesterol ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; Gallbladder* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pathology ; Polyps

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Early detection of gallbladder (GB) cancer is essential for better survival rates. Most cases of GB cancer are diagnosed incidentally via pathology of the cholecystectomy specimen. Data on the clinical characteristics of early GB cancer are lacking. The aim of the current study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of early GB cancer to aid earlier diagnosis. METHODS: Sixty-four patients who were diagnosed with early GB cancer after surgical resection at the Samsung Medical Center were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristics, preoperative diagnoses, preoperative tumor size, laboratory findings including carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels, imaging features, and survival rate were investigated. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms and serum tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 levels were not helpful indicators of early GB cancer. Radiologic modalities showed abnormal findings in every case of early GB cancer; a polypoid mass was the most common feature. Less common features included GB wall thickening, cholecystitis, and GB stones. The clinical outcome of early GB cancer was excellent. CONCLUSIONS: Screening with imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography (US) is helpful in detecting early GB cancer. Even in the presence of GB wall thickening, cholecystitis, or GB stones on the CT or US, any abnormal findings should prompt careful examination and intensive follow up, considering the possibility of occult gallbladder cancer.
Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; Cholecystectomy ; Cholecystitis ; Diagnosis ; Gallbladder ; Gallbladder Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Pathology ; Survival Rate ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Ultrasonography

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Aged ; Cholecystectomy ; Chondrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Gallbladder ; chemistry ; pathology ; surgery ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-3 ; metabolism ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) on the growth and invasion of gallbladder cancer cells.

METHODSThe CAFs were isolated from human primary gallbladder carcinoma tissues by tissue culture and digestion methods. The cells were purified by differential adhesion method, and the primary cells were identified morphologically and immunocytochemically. The proliferation and invasion of two human gallbladder carcinoma cell lines (SBC-996 and GBC-SD) co-cultured with CAFs were detected by MTT and Transwell chamber assays.

RESULTSGallbladder carcinoma CAFs were isolated successfully by both tissue culture and enzyme digestion methods, and the latter method was more convenient and efficient. MTT and Transwell assays showed that CAFs significantly promoted the proliferation and invasion of the two gallbladder carcinoma cell lines.

CONCLUSIONCAFs can promote the proliferation and invasion of gallbladder carcinoma cells in vitro, suggesting the important role of CAFs in the development of gallbladder carcinoma.

Carcinoma ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans