Extensive ganglioneuromatosis of gallbladder

Int J Surg Pathol. 2011 Aug;19(4):524-6. doi: 10.1177/1066896908324129. Epub 2008 Sep 19.

Abstract

A case of extensive ganglioneuromatosis (GN) of gallbladder is presented. A 38-year-old man presented with a hepatic hilar mass (Ø ~ 48 mm) and gall stones. He had undergone total thyroidectomy for medullary thyroid carcinoma 8 years earlier. The hepatic hilus tumor, which had been clinically suspected to be a lymph node metastasis from the medullary thyroid carcinoma, was found to be pheochromocytoma. The gallbladder, resected with a clinical diagnosis of cholelithiasis, showed extensive transmural GN despite a grossly normal appearance. Taking into account the past history, the patient was diagnosed as having multiple endocrine neoplasia 2b (MEN2b)-associated GN of gallbladder and ectopic pheochromocytoma. As GN of gallbladder in MEN2b has been rarely reported, the histological findings are described in detail and a brief review of literature is carried out.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / surgery
  • Adrenal Glands
  • Adult
  • Cholelithiasis / diagnosis
  • Choristoma / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Gallbladder Diseases / pathology
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / surgery
  • Ganglioneuroma / pathology*
  • Ganglioneuroma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2b / pathology
  • Pheochromocytoma / pathology*
  • Pheochromocytoma / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed