A 51-year-old male patient with a melanocytic lesion in the left lumbar region was biopsied, confirming the histopathological diagnosis of superficial spreading melanoma pT4bM2b M0 (stage IIIc) with BRAF mutation. Further surgery was indicated to widen the margins and a selective biopsy of the sentinel lymph node was performed, which showed metastasis without extracapsular invasion. Left inguinal lymphadenectomy was proposed. Two months earlier, the patient had presented an episode of acute diverticulitis, for which reason an abdominal computed axial tomography was requested. The CT scan showed a normal-sized gallbladder with a 13-mm outgrowth lesion, compatible with a gallbladder polyp. The tomography was repeated prior to the lymphadenectomy, where a significant growth of the gallbladder lesion up to 30 mm was observed (Fig. 1). The patient had no digestive symptoms at any time, and the hepatobiliary and pancreatic profiles showed no analytical alterations.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Axial computed tomography slice of the patient. It shows a polypoid lesion inside the gallbladder

Full size image

Given the findings, it was decided to perform a concomitant laparoscopic cholecystectomy at the same surgical time, which was carried out without incident. The anatomopathological study of the specimen confirmed the diagnosis of gallbladder metastasis due to epithelioid and spindle cell malignant melanoma (Fig. 2). The lymphadenectomy study showed 18 lymph nodes, all of them without tumor infiltration. Subsequently, an extension study was performed by PET-TAC, which showed involvement of a presacral ganglion and a single bone metastasis in the left iliac bone. It also showed hypermetabolic foci in the right prostatic lobe, of uncertain significance. The patient is alive and is undergoing oncological treatment with pembrolizumab.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Histological section of the gallbladder. Microphotography (H-E. × 10): biliary cylindrical epithelium is observed, infiltrated by melanocytic cells. The accompanying stroma is also infiltrated by this proliferation of large, atypical cells, with a large cytoplasm loaded with pigment and presence of a central and hyperchromatic nucleus of irregular contour

Full size image

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive neoplasm with a high tendency to metastasize. Gastrointestinal metastases, although described in the literature, are infrequent [1]. Regarding gallbladder metastases, there are only a few isolated reports in the scientific literature, and there is no consensus on optimal management. A recent review showed that 60% of the metastases present in the gallbladder correspond to malignant melanoma. The most probable route of dissemination is hematogenous, although dissemination via the biliary route cannot be excluded [1]. In series of autopsies performed on patients with melanoma, up to 20% of metastases have been found in the gallbladder, but the proportion of these patients diagnosed during life is much lower. This is probably related to the fact that gallbladder metastases are in most cases asymptomatic [1]. Although there are reports of high survival rate at 1-year follow-up after surgery in single gallbladder malignant melanoma metastasis [2], these results are different from those reported in other series. This seems to be related to the fact that in most patients in whom gallbladder metastases are found, the disease is widespread. Given these findings, it seems reasonable to consider laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with localized and resectable disease [3].

In conclusion, melanoma metastases in the gallbladder are infrequent and constitute a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The presence of a gallbladder lesion in the context of a patient diagnosed with melanoma should establish the diagnostic suspicion of metastasis, and an early extension study and laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be considered. The palliative surgical approach to avoid hepatobiliary symptomatology can be considered (including biliary stenting and cholecystostomy), although the decision must be individualized.