Malignant stromal tumor of the gallbladder with interstitial cells of Cajal phenotype

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2002 Apr;126(4):481-3. doi: 10.5858/2002-126-0481-MSTOTG.

Abstract

Malignant mesenchymal tumors of the gallbladder are exceedingly rare. We report a malignant stromal tumor of the gallbladder with a phenotype of interstitial cells of Cajal. To our knowledge, only the benign counterpart of this tumor has been described previously. A 34-year-old woman presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. At the time of cholecystectomy, the gallbladder was noted to have a thickened wall and a polypoid mass arising in the neck of the gallbladder. Histologic sections showed a cellular proliferation of spindle neoplastic cells that were arranged in short fascicles. Numerous mitotic figures and foci of necrosis were noted. The neoplastic cells expressed CD117 (c-Kit protein) and vimentin. They were negative for smooth muscle actin, desmin, myoglobin, cytokeratin, S100 protein, and CD34. Our case demonstrates that a malignant stromal tumor that is histologically and immunohistochemically identical to gastrointestinal stromal tumor can occur in the gallbladder, and that the expression of CD117 may be of therapeutic importance.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Female
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Myenteric Plexus / pathology*
  • Neurilemmoma / chemistry
  • Neurilemmoma / pathology*
  • Neurilemmoma / surgery
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / analysis
  • Stromal Cells / pathology*
  • Vimentin / analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Vimentin
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit