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Malignant Melanoma of the Gallbladder: A Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

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Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery Aims and scope

Abstract

Melanoma metastatic to the gallbladder is rare. When present, it is often part of a widespread complex of metastases. Primary gallbladder melanomas are also extremely rare and can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from metastatic lesions. The optimal treatment for malignant melanoma of the gallbladder remains unclear, and prognosis is generally poor. We present here two cases of patients with metastatic lesions to the gallbladder. One patient presented with symptomatic cholelithiasis and was found incidentally to have a metastasis. Another patient had known a metastasis, but underwent curative resection of the only site of disease. We review the published literature for gallbladder melanoma, both primary and metastatic to determine the role of surgery in this disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 1100 Walnut Street, MOB, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Mary K. Samplaski, Ernest L. Rosato & Adam C. Berger

  2. Department of Surgical Pathology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Agnes K. Witkiewicz

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Michael J. Mastrangelo

Authors
  1. Mary K. Samplaski
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  2. Ernest L. Rosato
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  3. Agnes K. Witkiewicz
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  4. Michael J. Mastrangelo
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  5. Adam C. Berger
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adam C. Berger.

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Samplaski, M.K., Rosato, E.L., Witkiewicz, A.K. et al. Malignant Melanoma of the Gallbladder: A Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature. J Gastrointest Surg 12, 1123–1126 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-007-0432-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-007-0432-4

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