Copyright
©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2006; 12(26): 4259-4261
Published online Jul 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i26.4259
Published online Jul 14, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i26.4259
Primary melanoma of the gallbladder: Does it exist? Report of a case and review of the literature
Michail Safioleas, Konstantinos Kontzoglou, Michail Stamatakos, Panagiotis Safioleas, Alkiviadis Kostakis, 2nd Department of Propedeutic Surgery, School of Medicine, Athens University, Laiko Hospital, Greece
Emmanouil Agapitos, Depatment of Pathology, School of Medicine, Athens University, Greece
George Mouzopoulos, Department of General Surgery, General Hospital of Sparta, Greece
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Professor Michail Safioleas, MD, PhD, 7 Kyprou Ave. Filothei, 15237, Athens, Greece. stamatakosmih@yahoo.gr
Telephone: +30-210-6812188
Received: March 1, 2006
Revised: March 15, 2006
Accepted: March 20, 2006
Published online: July 14, 2006
Revised: March 15, 2006
Accepted: March 20, 2006
Published online: July 14, 2006
Abstract
With the occasion of a case of malignant melanoma of the gallbladder, which appeared to be primary, we have reviewed the literature and the result of this research was that primary melanoma of the gallbladder remains a questionable medical entity. Only few cases of both primary and metastatic gallbladder melanoma have been reported so far, and the only agreement is that surgery is the mainstay treatment. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy, hormonotherapy or immunotherapy for both primary and metastatic disease remains undefined.