Small Cell Type Undifferentiated Carcinoma of Gall Bladder with Pas Positive Hyaline Globule Masquerading as Liver Mass: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

An undifferentiated carcinoma (UC) of the gall bladder behaves aggressively and has a grave prognosis. Small cell type undifferentiated carcinoma of the gall bladder is a rare variant. This paper reports a case of UC of gall bladder with PAS-positive diastase- resistant eosinophilic hyaline globules present as liver mass (on imaging) in a male patient. The microscopic findings of the liver and gall bladder after a right tri-segmentectomy showed an un-differentiated malignant neoplasm composed of cells with round to oval nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and scanty neoplasm. No definite cell pattern was identified with these neoplastic cells. A section from the gall bladder revealed a tumor arising from the lining epithelium and infiltrating through the muscularis. This tumor was infiltrating the adherent liver tissue directly and forming a mass of undifferentiated malignant cells. The focal area within the tumor mass showed the presence of PAS-positive, diastase-resistant, eosinophilic hyaline globules within the neoplastic cells. The immunohistochemistry test was diffusely positive for perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and negative for chromogranin, vimentin, Desmin, alpha-fetoprotein, leukocyte common antigen, CD34, and bcl2. When the clinical and radiological data are inconclusive, careful analysis of the histological and immunophenotypic features is needed to make the final diagnosis of UC of the gall bladder. The biological behavior and prognosis of this tumor remain unclear because of its rarity. Further studies will be needed to understand the characteristics of this deadly tumor and to establish an effective therapy for it.

Keywords

• undifferentiated
• gall bladder
• liver
• pas
• small cell carcinoma
• hyaline