Cystadenoma originating from the gallbladder

Obstructive Jaundice Caused by Mucinous Cystic Tumor of Gallbladder: A Case Report and Literature Review

Mucinous cystic tumor of the gallbladder is an extremely rare benign tumor, with potential for malignant degeneration. Mucinous cystic tumors of the cystic duct are divided into mucinous cystadenoma and mucinous cystadenocarcinoma. Currently, cystadenoma is generally considered to be a precancerous lesion of cystadenocarcinoma. At present, there are few cases reported worldwide, and there are no relevant guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of this disease. This article presents the collected clinical data of a patient with mucinous cystic tumor of the gallbladder who was admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University, with the characteristics of the disease summarized in combination with a focused literature review.

A Mucinous Cystic Neoplasm Originating from the Gallbladder: A Case Report and Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

Mucinous cystic neoplasms of the gallbladder are extremely rare, benign, unilocular or multilocular cystic tumors that contain septations. Mucinous cystadenoma, a subtype of mucinous cystic neoplasm, is defined as epithelial cystic proliferations composed of cells that contain intracytoplasmic mucin.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 70-year-old African American woman was admitted to the hospital because of progressive lower back pain and inability to walk. She was scheduled for a kyphoplasty. However, the day before surgery, she reported severe abdominal pain radiating to her right shoulder. On further workup, results of abdominal ultrasonography revealed a cystic mass in the lumen of the gallbladder. The kyphoplasty was postponed and a laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. Pathologic evaluation of the gallbladder revealed a multiloculated mucinous cystic neoplasm.

DISCUSSION

Mucinous cystadenoma of the gallbladder account for 0.02% of the total number of cases in the hepatobiliary system. They are more frequently seen in middle-age women with a mean age at presentation of 45 years. Symptoms vary depending on the location of the tumor, but it typically presents as acute or chronic right upper quadrant pain, epigastric pain, and nausea and vomiting. The multilocular form is more common than unilocular. The cystic lesions can be filled with serous, hemorrhagic, mucinous, or mixed fluids. Clinicians should be suspicious of mucinous cystadenoma of the gallbladder when common gallbladder disease is excluded because malignant features can be present in the lesion.