Challenges in treatment of a patient suffering from neuroendocrine tumor G1 of the hilar bile duct: a case report

BMC Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan 8;22(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s12876-021-02019-6.

Abstract

Background: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) arise from neuroendocrine cells and are extremely rare in the biliary tract. Currently, there are no guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of biliary NETs. We presented a case with NETs G1 of the hilar bile duct and the challenges for her treatment.

Case presentation: A 24-year-old woman was presented to our department with painless jaundice and pruritus, and the preoperative diagnosis was Bismuth type II hilar cholangiocarcinoma. She underwent Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy with excision of the extrahepatic biliary tree and radical lymphadenectomy. Unexpectedly, postoperative pathological and immunohistochemical examination indicated a perihilar bile duct NETs G1 with the microscopic invasion of the resected right hepatic duct. Then the patient received 3 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (Gemcitabine and tegafur-gimeracil-oteracil potassium capsule). At present, this patient has been following up for 24 months without recurrence or disease progression.

Conclusion: We know little of biliary NETs because of its rarity. There are currently no guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of biliary NETs. We reported a case of perihilar bile duct NETs G1 with R1 resection, as far as we know this is the first report. More information about biliary NETs should be registered.

Keywords: Biliary neuroendocrine tumors; Case report; Diagnosis; R1 resection; Treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Bile Ducts, Extrahepatic*
  • Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Klatskin Tumor*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors* / surgery
  • Young Adult