Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the gallbladder: Ultrasonographic and MDCT features with pathologic correlation

Abstract

KEYWORDSNeuroendocrine tumors; Gallbladder; Gallbladder tumor; Imaging Histologically adenocarcinomas represent 95 % of all gallbladder carcinomas [1]. Conversely, primary neuroendocrine tumors of the gallbladder are extremely rare, representing 0.2 % of all neuroendocrine tumors and only 2 % of all gallbladder carcinomas [2].The diagnosis of primary neuroendocrine tumors of the gallbladder is usually made during histopathological analysis because no suggestive imaging features that allow discriminating between this specific tumor and the more common gallbladder adenocarcinoma have been described [3]. Because of its rarity, the imaging features of primary neuroendocrine tumor of the gallbladder have received little attention so far.We report herein the ultrasonographic and multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) findings of two cases of histopathologically confirmed primary neuroendocrine tumors of the gallbladder that presented as large gallbladder masses in association with large metastatic lymph nodes and intrahepatic metastases.

Recurrent Mixed Neuroendocrine-Non-Neuroendocrine Neoplasm in the Gallbladder: A Case Report

“…Laboratory and imaging tests, including ultrasound, abdominal CT scan, and magnetic resonance imaging, can be suggestive of ongoing neoplastic changes. In a case series of neuroendocrine tumors in the gallbladder, CT findings indicative of neuroendocrine tumors indicated the existence of large heterogeneous masses inside the gallbladder with enlarged metastatic lymph nodes [12].…”

Gallbladder cancer: 7-Year experience from Qatar

“…Pathology was available for 31 patients (4 patients did not undertake gallbladder resection or core needle biopsies), where 27 (87.0%) were adenocarcinomas, 3 (9.7%) were neuroendocrine tumors (NET), and one (3.2%) had high-grade dysplasia with no invasive component. Our neuroendocrine tumors were of a higher percentage (9.7%) than others, as these tumors are rare in other studies (1.3–2% of all GC and <0.2% of all NETs [17,37,38]. One of our neuroendocrine tumors was of the pure large cell variety, which is extremely rare, with our case being the 8th case described in the literature.…”

Neuroendocrine Tumor of the Gallbladder, a Rare Incidental Finding

“…The most common site for metastases is the hilar lymph nodes and liver (segments other than 4 and 5), with about 80% of cases with metastases presenting with an enlarged lymph node on CT images. 6,7 Histologically, gallbladder NETs resemble their homologous counterparts throughout the gastrointestinal tract, with the cytological architecture depending on the grade of differentiation. The well-differentiated lesions are generally composed of small, uniform cells with low variability in size and shape, organized in nests, cords, trabecular and glandular patterns.…”