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Metastatic melanoma of the gallbladder: A case report and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Murphy Maurice N.,
Lorimer Susan M.,
Glen Peter E.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.2930340117
Subject(s) - medicine , gallbladder , melanoma , gallbladder cancer , gallbladder disease , disease , metastatic melanoma , pathology , general surgery , dermatology , surgery , cancer research
A single case of symptomatic metastatic melanoma to the gallbladder, with roentogenographic findings of gallbladder disease, is presented. Review of the 12 previously reported cases of symptomatic metastatic biliary melanoma and of those reports of “primary” melanoma of the gallbladder reveals marked similarity between the two groups, with regard to relative size, pathologic description, number, and location of lesions. This, together with the finding of “junctional activity” in our case, leads us to believe that most if not all melanomas present in the gallbladder are metastatic deposits from a known, undetected, or regressed primary locus elsewhere. Surgical removal, even in the presence of disseminated disease, is a worthwhile palliative procedure.