Leiomyosarcoma of the gallbladder-A case report and a review of literature

Abstract

Introduction: Primary sarcomas of the gallbladder (GB) are a rare disease that were first described by Griffon and Segall in 1897. Leiomyosarcomas (LMS), as described in the case report at hand, are considered a major subgroup.

Presentation of case: A 62-year-old female was referred to our hospital with intermittent right upper quadrant pain. A 45 mm mass arising from the neck of the GB was diagnosed by ultrasound. No distant metastases were revealed. We successfully removed the GB and the surrounding liver tissue. We also performed a lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament. The histopathological and immunohistochemical examination revealed an R0 resected epithelioid LMS of the GB.

Discussion: Our review of literature shows only 20 publications of LMS of the GB. The majority of the patients are female with an average age of 65.95 years. In a non-metastasized stage, a cholecystectomy with a wedge resection of the surrounding liver tissue, accompanied by a lymphadenectomy of the hepatoduodenal ligament, is described as a successful surgical approach.

Conclusion: The LMS should be taken under consideration when diagnosing a tumor of the GB.

Keywords: Epitheloid leiomyosarcoma; Histogenesis; Histomorphology; Immunohistochemistry; Sarcoma; Tumor of gallbladder.