Primary small cell carcinoma of the gallbladder diagnosed by PET/CT combined with tumour markers: A case report

Small cell cancer (SCC) of the gallbladder is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy. We report here a case diagnosed by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET-CT) combined with tumour markers. A 51-year-old man presented with pain in his neck, shoulder, back, lumbar and right thigh. Ultrasonography showed an isoechoic mass in the gallbladder, and a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan showed multiple retroperitoneal occupations and multiple vertebral bone destruction with pathological fractures. Blood analysis showed elevated levels of tumour markers including neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and PET/CT images showed extensive distant metastases. A diagnosis of primary SCC of the gallbladder was made following exclusion of the possibility of metastasis from other organs. The use of biomarkers with immunohistochemical findings and PET/CT imaging, will assist clinicians in the identification and understanding of the pathology of this disease.