Open AccessMetastatic Gallbladder Cancer Presenting as a Gingival Tumor and Deep Neck Infection
Author(s) -
Chen YuanShen,
Hsu YungHsiang,
Lee ChiaFone,
Chou YuFu
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the kaohsiung journal of medical sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.439
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 2410-8650
pISSN - 1607-551X
DOI - 10.1016/s1607-551x(10)70086-3
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , gallbladder , adenocarcinoma , cholecystectomy , radiology , biopsy , surgery
Gallbladder cancer has an extremely poor prognosis because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. We describe a 63‐year‐old woman who was treated 4 years previously for gallbladder cancer, with laparoscopic cholecystectomy and secondary hepatectomy after presenting with acute cholecystitis and gallbladder rupture. At her second presentation, she had a left lower gingival tumor and deep neck infection. Incision and drainage and tumor biopsies were performed, and pathology at both sites revealed adenocarcinoma. Positron emission tomography revealed other tumors in the left breast and left lower lung field, which were both proven to be adenocarcinoma by biopsy. The patient's presentation with a metastatic oral tumor was rare. Although the incidence is very low, physicians should consider the possibility of metastatic cancer in a patient with a history of cancer, who presents with new oral tumor or deep neck infection.