Gallbladder Mass and Diffuse Wall Thickness in an Elderly Patient: is it Definitively a Gallbladder Cancer?

Abstract

Gallbladder masses as part of gallbladder pathology are commonly encountered at clinical scenario. However, it is important to distinguish between benign and malignant conditions in terms of clinical significance and management. While few gallbladder masses may present with unusual or nonspecific imaging appearances that is not easy to characterize gallbladder pathology. This report herein showed an elderly patient with a gallbladder mass accompanied by diffuse wall thickness of gallbladder that were similar to clinical characteristic of gallbladder cancer. Under thoughtfully surgical management, this patient was recovery very well from the operation and end up with a pleasant result of chronic cholecystitis instead of gallbladder carcinoma. Therefore, patients with a gallbladder mass are not definitively related to malignancy but should also be kept in mind the possibility of carcinoma. As long as pathological diagnosis is confirmed, surgical management with a therapeutic intent based on suitable clinical circumstances should be attempted.