Renal cell carcinoma with unusual metastasis to the gallbladder

J Hepatobiliary Pancreat Surg. 2008;15(2):209-12. doi: 10.1007/s00534-007-1226-5. Epub 2008 Apr 6.

Abstract

Gallbladder involvement in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is extremely rare. We present a report of a 61-year-old man with a synchronous RCC metastasis to the gallbladder presenting as an intraluminal polypoid mass simulating primary gallbladder carcinoma. Enhanced abdominal computed tomography demonstrated a well-enhanced polypoid lesion in the gallbladder. Intraoperative rapid pathological examination of the gallbladder tumor showed clear cell-type cancerous cells. Microscopically, tumor cells of both the resected kidney and gallbladder had round uniform nuclei, clear cytoplasm, and well-defined cytoplasmic borders, forming alveolar patterns. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were negative for cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is usually positive in primary clear cell carcinoma of the gallbladder. Therefore, the final diagnosis was RCC with a synchronous gallbladder metastasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / secondary*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / surgery
  • Cholecystectomy
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary
  • Nephrectomy