A Case of Alpha-fetoprotein, Carcinoembryonic Antigen-producing Gallbladder Cancer

Toshiaki Ichihara, Takashi Saito and Katsuhiko Suzuki

Department of Surgery, Honjo Daiichi Hospital

This report presents a 70-year-old man with gallbladder tumor, which was detected by ultrasonographic study at a near by clinic. The patient was referred to our hospital for further examination and treatment. On admission, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) value was 336 ng/ml and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) 32 ng/ml. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies showed irregularity of the gallbladder wall. Angiography revealed a hypervascular tumor surrounded by several thick vessels. Based on a diagnosis of gallbladder cancer, partial hepatectomy (segment 4a, 5, and parts of 6 and 8), cholecystectomy and cholangiojejunostomy were performed. The resected tumor was 7×5×5 cm in size, and had invaded to the liver bed and the intrahepatic bile duct. Histopathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder. On the 42th postoperative day, AFP was 4 ng/ml and CEA 1.4 ng/ml indicating normalized values. The localization of tumor markers was different in cancer cells. There have been 20 reports of AFP, CEA-producing gallbladder cancer in Japan. Almost all cases had liver metastasis.

Key words
alpha-fetoprotein, carcinoembryonic antigen, gallbladder cancer

Reprint requests
Toshiaki Ichihara Department of Surgery, Ogachi Central Hospital 3-3-15 Omotemachi, Yuzawa, 012-0827 JAPAN

Accepted
February 23, 2000

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