Gallbladder adenocarcinoma diagnosed retrospectively after initial resection of abdominal wall adenocarcinoma with unidentified primary source: a case report and review of the literature

TL;DR

A rare case of gallbladder cancer diagnosed after finding a metastasis at a surgical scar site is reported, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary care.

Contribution

This case report presents an unusual sequence of events where gallbladder cancer was identified after incisional metastasis, emphasizing the importance of tumor board discussions.

Findings

Gallbladder adenocarcinoma was diagnosed retrospectively after incisional site metastasis was found.

The patient's case was staged as stage IVb and managed with observation and surveillance.

The case underscores the value of multidisciplinary tumor board discussions in managing complex oncologic scenarios.

Abstract

Gallbladder carcinoma is the most common malignancy found within the biliary tract and is most often diagnosed incidentally after cholecystectomy is performed. Port-site metastasis discovered after removal of gallbladder carcinoma is not entirely unusual; however, recommendations for the definitive management of these metastasis sites do not yet exist. We report a rare case of incisional site seeding diagnosed prior to the discovery of gallbladder adenocarcinoma in a healthy 59-year-old woman with a history of open cholecystectomy performed in a different country. Ultimately, this patient’s case was staged as stage IVb disease as determined by an extensive multidisciplinary tumor board discussion and was managed with observation, frequent physical exams, and surveillance imaging. Our patient’s survival is 2 years 7 months to date after index cholecystectomy. The management of our unprecedented case of gallbladder carcinoma diagnosed retrospectively after the initial discovery of incisional site metastasis is a difficult one, and the management of unique oncologic scenarios should utilize a multidisciplinary tumor board approach.

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