Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2014; 20(26): 8736-8739
Published online Jul 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i26.8736
Tubulopapillary adenoma of the gallbladder accompanied by bile duct tumor thrombus
Kentaroh Yamamoto, Fumio Yamamoto, Atsuhiro Maeda, Hirotsune Igimi, Mami Yamamoto, Ryosuke Yamaguchi, Yuichi Yamashita
Kentaroh Yamamoto, Fumio Yamamoto, Hirotsune Igimi, Mami Yamamoto, Department of Surgery, Yamamoto Memorial Hospital, Saga 848-0031, Japan
Atsuhiro Maeda, Department of Internal Medicine, Maeda Hospital, Saga 848-0031, Japan
Ryosuke Yamaguchi, Yuichi Yamashita, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan
Author contributions: Yamamoto K, Yamamoto F and Yamashita Y designed the report; Yamamoto K, Yamamoto M and Igimi H performed the genetic analyses; Yamamoto K, Maeda A and Yamaguchi R collected the patient’s clinical data; Yamamoto K analyzed the data and wrote the paper.
Supported by Yamamoto Memorial Hospital, Imari City, Saga, Japan
Correspondence to: Kentaroh Yamamoto, MD, PhD, Department of Surgery, Yamamoto Memorial Hospital, Hachiyakarami 88-4, Niri-cho, Imari, Saga 848-0031, Japan. kentaroh-y@kenjin-kai.com
Telephone: +81-955-232166 Fax: +81-955-224702
Received: January 7, 2014
Revised: January 31, 2014
Accepted: March 6, 2014
Published online: July 14, 2014
Processing time: 188 Days and 1.6 Hours
Abstract

Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) is recognized as a precancerous lesion; however, both its pathogenesis and progression remain unclear. We present here a case of IPNB arising from the gallbladder accompanied by bile duct tumor thrombus in a 79-year-old female. The resected specimen revealed a tubulopapillary adenoma with no malignant cells. This case suggests that even in the absence of malignant cells, these tumors can behave as malignant tumors requiring aggressive treatment. Even if no malignant cells are present, intraepithelial neoplasms occurring in the ampullopancreatobiliary tract can behave as malignant tumors.

Keywords: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct; Tumor thrombi

Core tip: Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the bile duct (IPNB) has relatively recently been recognized as a separate disease entity with an unclear pathogenesis. We present a case of IPNB developing from the gallbladder accompanied by a bile duct tumor thrombus in a 79-year-old female. Although this is not a malignant lesion, it has the potential to mimic a malignant lesion, and hence needs aggressive treatment.