Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of Gallbladder: An Incidental Finding of Acute Cholecystitis With Cholelithiasis

Abstract

The biliary tract's most frequent malignancy is gallbladder cancer (GBC). Due to the growing number of laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedures, the majority of GBC cases in the United States are diagnosed as incidental findings. Roughly 5% of the reported cases of gallbladder adenocarcinomas are of the mucinous type. Mucinous adenocarcinoma tumors contain more than 50% of mucin materials and are clinically characterized by poor prognosis. Initial presentation can mimic acute cholecystitis or cholelithiasis; meanwhile, histological findings post-cholecystectomy are the main diagnostic criteria of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. This case presents a patient who has been diagnosed with cholelithiasis and cholecystitis and subsequently underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Histopathological examination of the gallbladder specimen was consistent with incidental gallbladder adenocarcinoma, the mucinous subtype to be specific.