Primary Pure Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: Case Report

Abstract

Squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder is rare and accounts for about 12.7% of all cases of gallbladder cancer. Pure squamous cell carcinoma is even less common with a reported incidence of 3.3%. We present a case of 72 year-old African-American woman with decreased appetite, fatigue, and weight loss associated with intermittent right upper quadrant pain for two months. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a mass in the gallbladder and the hepatic flexure of the colon with involvement of adjacent small bowel. On exploratory laparotomy, a mass at the dome of the gallbladder was found with local invasion of the hepatic flexure, and the proximal transverse colon. There was no obvious involvement of the duodenum, common bile duct, or the extra-hepatic biliary tree. An extended right hemicolectomy, distal small bowel resection, cholecystectomy, a wedge resection of the liver and a feeding jejunostomy, were performed. Pathologic evaluation demonstrated well to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of gallbladder without evidence of distant metastasis. The patient improved clinically and was discharged home in good condition.