Tehran University Medical Journal

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Background: Gastric cancer (G.Ca) is significantly more prevalent in north western than central Iran. Growing evidence has related Helicobacter pylori (H.P) to G.Ca worldwide. We assessed the prevalence of H.P infection in high (Ardebil) and low (Yazd) prevalence of G.Ca provinces of Iran. Methods: Cluster sampling of healthy population aged less than 20 years was performed in Ardebil and Yazd provinces over 2 months. Ten cc blood was drawn from each person and H.P IgG was tested using ELISA (Diagnostic Corp., sensitivity 98%, specificity 96%). Results: 711 individuals (358 in Ardebil and 353 in Yazd) were enrolled. 170 individuals (47.5%) in Ardebil and 108 individuals (30.6%) in Yazd were positive for H.P (P<0.0001). Using logistic regression analysis, the predictive probability of H.P infection in different age groups was calculated. Conclusion: H.P infection is significantly more prevalent among individuals less than 20 years in areas with high prevalence of gastric cancer in Iran. Our data suggest a relation between H.P infection and gastric cancer in Iran

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In this paper we have reported and discussed an unusual histopathologic feature of medullary carcinoma which is one of the pitfalls in the diagnosis of this tumor. The patient was a 14 years old girl who complained of painless, gradually growing cervical mass from one year ago. She had no history of head and neck radiotherapy of familial history of thyroidal or other endocrine disease. In laboratory investigations a cold thyroid nodule was confirmed and FNA of it was reported as follicular lesion. The patient underwent lobectomy isthmectomy with frozen section wich was reported as Hurthle neoplasm and then the other lobe of patient's thyroid resected. In it's pathologic exam another nodule was observed which mostly composed of spindle cells at last histochemically medullary carcinoma confirmed

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Differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid occruing within the gland is generally not regarded as an aggressive tumor however, when the tumor extends beyond the gland's capsule and onto adjacent structures, its prognosis worsens. During the past three decades such locally invasive thyroid cancer has been studied, specifically concerning invasion into the airway. Progress in tracheal operations in the past 20 years has changed remarkably in terms of the operative methods and indications for thyroid carcinoma invading the trachea. Resection and primary reconstruction of the trachea invaded by carcinoma of the thyroid should be done in the absence of extensive metastases when technically, feasible. It offers prolonged palliation, avoidance of suffocation and an opportunity for cure. In carefully selected patient with massive regional involvement, radical excision laryngopharyngoesophagectomy and mediastinal tracheostomy is also appropriate. In this article, management of one patient with intraluminal involvement of trachea by thyroid carcinoma is presented and management of upper aerodigestive tract invasion by thyroid cancer reviewed.

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Squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer of keratinocytes origin, mostly involves sun-exposed areas of the skin. To study the pathologic and demographic features of this disease, records of 395 patients of squamous cell carcinoma of skin and lip were reviewed. Most of the patients (83%) aged 40 years or more at the time of diagnosis. Respectively, 74.4% and 75.8% of cases with skin and lower lip carcinoma were men, but in upper lip cases frequencies of both sexes were equal. The number of patients referred from western and north-western provinces were much more than those of other provinces of the country. The most frequent histologic stage was grade I (53% and 58.8% in skin and lip carcinoma, respectively), showing that most patients visit physicians early enough, and are diagnosed in early stages of the disease.

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Zinc has an important role in skin health and its deficiency reduces immunity. To evaluate levels of Zinc in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of skin, we studied 44 BCC and 38 SCC cases together with 33 controls. Blood samples were taken and after separation of serum, levels of Zinc, albumin and total protein were measured by atomic absorption, albumin kit and reflectometer consecutively. Serum globulin levels were stimated by substracting albumin from total protein levels. Zinc levels were significantly lower in cancer cases than control (P<0.001). Mean serum albumin of BCC cases was significantly more than controls (P<0.01), but in BCC cases was not significantly different. Significant correlations were seen between levels of serum Zinc and albumin of SCC (R=0.507, P<0.01) and BCC (R=0.43, P<0.01) patients and controls (R=0.35, P<0.01). Mean globulin levels in cancer cases were significantly lower than control group (P<0.01). We concluded that serum Zinc and globulin levels decrease in BCC and SCC of skin.

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Breast cancer is a major cause of mortality in women due to malignant diseases and is the most prevalent type of cancer in western countries. According to investigations which has been done in Iran so far, the prevalence of disease in our country is also very high, therefore complete attention to clinical and pathological findings of this disease would be extremely essential. In this study, the direct relationship between axillary lymph node involvement and the aggressiveness of invasive ductal carcinoma has been brought into consideration. This study is a case series of 90 patients which all of them have had radical mastectomy because of breast cancer and all their samples has been referred to the center of pathology of Imam hospital. Based on modified Bloom-Richardson grading, all the samples have been graded. The study of all lymph node samples related to above cases has also been conducted along with the main study. The most frequent ages of disease was 31 to 40 and left breast had most involvement. From all cases, 12.2% were in grade I with 27.2% lymph node involvement, 66.7% grade II with 73.4% lymph node involvement and 21.1% in grade III with 100% lymph node involvement (P=0.00008). Based on statistical analysis we concluded that the axillary lymph node involvement in breast cancer is strongly associated with the aggressiveness of invasive ductal carcinoma. This important point should not be neglected in planning for treatment of this kind of disease.

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Dispersed neuroendocrine system (D.N.S) consists of a wide variety of cells that are present in the central and peripheral nervous system and in many classic endocrine organs and different tissues such as respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, skin, prostate, breast and also their neoplasm show neuroendocrine differentiation by electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry or biochemical techniques:
Materials and Methods: The present study has been carried out by case-series method in order to evaluating the characteristics of all types of neuroendocrine carcinoma: different anatomical locations during 5 years period in immunohistochemistry department of cancer institute.
Results: The diagnosis of 109 cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma consisting of neuroendocrine carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, medullary carcinoma of thyroid, carcinoid tumor and merkel cell carcinoma are confirmed that among them the most common diagnosis was related to neuroendocrine carcinoma (50.5 percent). The most prevalent age group was 40-49 years and male to female distribution were 56 percent and 44 percent respectively. Anatomical distribution of tumor show that about 30 percent of cases were metastatic carcinoma, 30 percent in thyroid, respiratory tract and head and neck region and remainder in a variety of tissues. In over 50 percent of cases one of endocrinoid patterns as trabecular, organoid or mixed of them were seen.
Conclusion: Immunohistochemically N.S.E (Neuron Specific Enolase) show high sensitivity with 96 percent positive reaction and more specific endocrine markers as chromogranin A in 80 percent and synaptophysin only in 24 percent because of lesser application of the latter. Also epithelial markers such as cytokeratin and E.M.A.
(Epithelial Membrane Antigen) were positive in 69 percent and 74 percent respectively. Mean survival rate of all neuroendocrine carcinoma reached to 4.8 years with lowest survival of 4.3 years among small cell carcinoma and highest in merkel cell carcinoma with 5.5 years.

 

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Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with radioactive iodine on the function of gonads in males and females with follicular and papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Materials and Methods: Consenting patients in the reproductive age were grouped according to the cumulative dose of received radioiodine and followed for at least 12 months. For all men, serum levels of FSH, LH, and testosterone were measured some (53 cases) were also studied by semen analysis. For women, tests for serum levels of LH, FSH, estrogen, and progesterone were performed.

Results: Overall, 246 patients (159 females, 87 males) were studied. In 87.4% of men, there was an increase in serum FSH level after radioiodine therapy, in 20.7% of whom the level remained high during follow-up period. The average serum level of FSH after each course of treatment was significantly higher than the level before treatment (p<0.01), and there was a meaningful correlation with the cumulative dose of received iodine (p<0.001). Reduced number of sperms was shown in 35.8% of male patients, among whom 73.7% also showed reduced motility. In 36.8% of the patients with reduced sperm number (13.2% of the total), this finding was persistent during the follow-up period. Increased level of FSH was correlated with reduced sperm counts in all doses (p 

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Background: High titer of IgA and IgG are found in the presence of EBV genome in epithelial cells of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In this survey we evaluated the accuracy of EBV antibodies titers in screening and follow up the patients.

Methods: Thirty nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were followed from 2003 to 2004. Serum EBV antibody levels were measured before and after ( 3 months ) radiotherapy or combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Results: More than 77% of patients were seropositive before treatment .The antibodies decreased significantly, 3 months after treatment (p<0.05).     

Conclusion: This investigation shows the efficiency of serologic methods for screening of high risk people and follow up of patients after treatment, but more complementary studies is needed

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Background: This prospective phase III study was designed to compare the activity of two combinations chemotherapy drugs in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma
Methods: In a double blinded clinical trial, From Jan. 2002 to Jan. 2005, ninety patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma were randomly assigned to 1) Cisplatin and continuous infusion of 5FU and Epirubicin (ECF), and 2) Cisplatin and continuous infusion of 5FU with Docetaxel (TCF). Reduction in tumor mass, overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), and safety were measured outcome.
Results: About 90% of patients had stage III or IV disease and the most common sites of tumor spread were peritoneal surfaces, liver and Paraaortic lymph nodes in either group. The objective clinical response rate (more than 50% decreases in tumor mass) was 38% and 43% in ECF and TCF group respectively. Global quality of life increased (p=0 002) and symptoms of pain and insomnia decreased after chemotherapy. Patients in TCF had more grade one or two skin reactions, neuropathy and diarrhea. Fourteen patients underwent surgery. Complete microscopic (R0) resection had done in two of ECF and six of TCF tumors (p=0.015). Two cases in TCF group showed complete pathologic response. Median TTP was nine months and 10 months in ECF and TCF group respectively. Median OS was 12 months in both groups.
Conclusion: Although there wasn’t statistically significant difference regarded to clinical response or survival between two groups, TCF showed more complete pathologic response.

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Background: Endometrial cancer is the most common malignancy of genital system which is commonly seen after menopause. Rises in the age of marriage non-surgical methods, using systemic progestins, have been evaluated to treat the young patients with well-differentiated endometrial cancer who wish to preserve their fertility.
Methods: Twenty one infertile patients with stage Ia well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma were enrolled in a quasi-experimental study. The treatment initiated with 160mg/d of megestrol acetate then continued with 320mg/d for non-responsive cases. Patients follow up with FD&C and hysteroscopy. Patients divided in two groups on the basis of response to therapy and persistent. The responsive patients were introduced to IVF group and evaluated for later fertility and birth of alive newborns for three years.
Results: This study showed a response rate of 85.71% and 14.29% undergoing TAH. The mean duration of treatment was 5.85±2.00 month. The response to therapy was observed in 27.78% with dose of 160mg/d and the remaining patients with 320mg/d. Pregnancy occurred in 27.78%, 2 of which ended up in a term delivery and the others ended before term. Recurrence happened in 16.67% that 66.67% of them experienced remission again.
Conclusion: Use of 320mg/d seems to be associated with a better therapeutic response. Serious complications were not observed with this dose. Furthermore, continuance of the drug for three month following a normal pathology report was decreased the rate of recurrence.

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Background: The aim of this study was to review the frequency, histopathology and outcome in children with tumors of the liver.
Methods: Included in this retrospective/descriptive study were 30 children treated for liver tumors from 1375-1384 (ca. 1996-2005), at Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Tehran, Iran. We included the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic data of our patients, focusing on the frequency, etiology and outcome.
Results: Patient ages ranged from three months to 12 years (median 3.8 years), with 18 males (60%) and 12 females (40%). Of these, 17 patients had hepatoblastoma (55.66%), including 13 males and four females, with an age range of six months to five years. Four cases (13.33%) had neuroblastoma. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was found in three cases (10%), all of whom were carriers of hepatitis B. Two cases (6.66%) were diagnosed with mesenchymal hamartoma, two cases (6.66%) with hemangioendothelioma and two cases (6.66%) with rhabdomyosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma of the biliary tract. Abdominal swelling and hepatomegaly were seen in all of patients. Jaundice was observed in two cases. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels greater than 500 ng/ml were seen in 17 cases (56.66%). All patients were receiving specific treatment. The three-year survival rate was 65% for hepatoblastoma and 2% for HCC
Conclusion: With the introduction of specific treatment, the survival rate for children with tumors of the liver has significantly increased. Further improvement can be achieved using diagnostic biopsy for hepatoblastoma, although it may result in complications, and preoperative chemotherapy followed by complete surgical excision (per International Society of Pediatric Oncology guidelines), yielding an outstanding survival rate of 80%.

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Background: The extracellular matrix is a complex three-dimensional network of proteins and glycosaminoglycans, which have important roles in cellular physiology and cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Any changes in the extracellular matrix of tumors may be implicated in cellular transformation and metastasis. The aim of the present study was to identify changes in the hyaluronic acid of the stroma of colonic carcinoma.

Methods: Paraffin blocks of 30 patients with colon carcinoma (10 patients at each histological grade) were chosen from the pathology file of Khatam-Al-Anbia Hospital in Zahedan, Iran. Tissue sections (5-6 micrometers thick) were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the alcian blue critical electrolyte concentration histochemical technique at pH=5.8. The intensity of the staining in each section was graded as 1, 2 or 3, referring to low, moderate or severe staining reactivities, respectively. Statistical data was analyzed with nonparametric tests by SPSS (ver. 10) and histopathological reports were prepared.

Results: The results of this study showed that there is a good correlation between histopathological grading and staining intensity of tumoral stroma for hyaluronic acid (p<0.005). Analysis using the Mann Whitney test revealed significant differences between staining grades 1 and 3 and grades 2 and 3 (p<0.005 and p<0.002, respectively), although there was no significant difference between staining grades 1 and 2 for hyaluronic acid.

Conclusions: The difference in staining intensity of the stroma in colon carcinoma is a result of different amounts of hyaluronic acid in stroma, indicating that increased levels of hyaluronic acid are associated with the invasion and metastasis of neoplastic cells.

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Background: Tumor diathesis (TD) refers to the granular proteinaceous precipitates on the slide surface of cytologic (Pap) smears. Found in the background of smears from some, but not all, invasive carcinoma cases, TD is present in the majority of smears from large cell nonkeratinizing carcinoma. It is more pronounced than keratinizing SCC also is almost always present in small cell carcinoma.  Smears from patients with adenocarcinoma are frequently associated with dense inflammatory and fresh blood exudates and less often there is a recognizable tumor diathesis.

Methods: To determine the prevalence of TD in cervicovaginal smears from patients with uterine cervix carcinoma, cytologic smears and histologic slides of 46 patients with histologically-confirmed uterine cervix carcinoma were reviewed for the presence or absence of TD, red blood cells and neutrophils on cytologic smears, as well as depth of invasion, histologic types and grade of differentiation of tumor on histologic slides.

Results: TD was identified in 28 smears (60.9%), 18 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (62.1%), seven patients with adenocarcinoma (58.3%), two patients with adenosquamous carcinoma (66.7%) and one patient with endometrial carcinoma that involved the uterine cervix. TD was seen in smears from four (33.3%) patients with uterine cervix carcinoma with invasion <5 mm and 17 (65.4%) carcinomas with invasion >5mm. However, some of the patients with invasive carcinoma lacked TD on the cytologic smears. Red blood cells were identified on 16 (34.8%) smears.

Conclusions: Although TD is the hallmark of invasive carcinoma of the cervix on cytological smears, there have been few studies performed on it. We found that tumors with greater depth of invasion and reduced differentiation are associated with TD cytologic smears. TD was absent in some cases, particularly in micro-invasive carcinoma. This study reinforced what has been recognized from other studies.

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Background: Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the sixth most common malignant neoplasm in women. Early stage diagnosis of uterine cervix carcinoma increases the cure rate of disease. Radiotherapy, with or without concurrent chemotherapy, is one of the most effective treatment modality in cervical carcinoma. After radiotherapy, accurate and regular follow-up results in early diagnosis and effective treatment of recurrence. The aim of this study is the assessment of the pathologic characteristics, setting and indications for postoperative radiotherapy and outcome of patients at the last follow-up.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we evaluated 346 cases of cervical carcinoma had received radiotherapy in radiation oncology department of the Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 1995 to 2001.

Results: The age of the study group ranged from 26 to 78 years (mean=50.5, SD=11). Of these patients, 30.4% were in the early stage and 69.6% had advanced stage disease. Squamous cell carcinoma comprised 92.2% of the cases and 6.4% adenocarcinoma. Radical radiotherapy was the most frequent radiotherapy setting and adjuvant radiotherapy (post-op) was the second. A considerable number of patients did not come back for follow-up, and 43.7% were followed for a short time.

Conclusion: Accurate presurgical clinical staging and surgical treatment by an expert gynecologic oncologist can reduce expose the patients to risks of two modality treatments (surgery and radiotherapy). According to our results, patients do not pay enough attention to disease follow-up. An acceptable training plan with emphasis on regular follow-up, is recommended.

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Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of the women worldwide. It is also an important cause of cancer-related mortality in women, after breast cancer. Nearly half million of new cases are identified yearly. The incidence rate in developing countries is greater than the developed countries. Epidemiologic studies have shown that the association of genital human papilloma virus (HPV) with cervical cancer is strong, independent of other risk factors, and consistent in several countries. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of HPV in patients with high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CINIII, CIN II) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of cervix.
Methods: Hundred specimens from patients with SCC and CINIII, CIN II, confirmed by histological review, referring to Mirza Koochak Khan Hospital from 1999-2004 were enrolled in a cross sectional study. Polymerase chain reaction was utilized for identification and typing of HPV DNA. To increase the sensitivity of HPV detection, nested PCRs were performed using MY09/MY11 as outer and GP5/GP6 as inner primers.
Results: It was possible to extract 77 of 100 specimens that HPV DNA was detected in 47 of 77 specimens. Infection with HPV was present in 32 specimens (86.5%) among SCC patients and in 15 specimens (37.5%) among CINIII, CIN II patients. The most frequent HPV types in SCC patients were HPV 16 and 18 (59.38%) and then 33 (34.38%) and in CINIII, CIN II patients was 16 (53.33%) and 18 (40%). the most frequent co-infection in both groups was HPV 16 and 18 which was present in 40.62% and 26.7% of cases respectively.
Conclusions: The most frequent HPV types in patients with SCC and CINIII, CIN II was 16 and 18 that is identical to many other countries infection pattern.

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Background: Endometrial carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract. Different molecular alterations have been described in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma that, the most frequently altered gene is mutations of PTEN. Up to 50-83% of endometrioid carcinoma reveal altered PTEN characterized by loss of expression. In endometrial hyperplasia, which are precursors of endometrioid carcinoma, loss of PTEN expression is 30-63%.
Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on 90 cases of endometrial curettage including: 30 proliferative endometrium, 30 hyperplastic endometrium and 30 endometroid carcinoma. Immunohistochemical specimens were graded semiquatitatively by considering the percentage of staining with two cut-point 10% & 50% on the whole section for each specimen.
Results: loss of PTEN expression was observed 0%, 0%, 30% of 51.7% in proliferative, simple hyperplasia, complex hyperplasia and endometrioid carcinoma respectively with cut-point 10% and 0%, 5.3%, 30%, 52.2% in endometrioid carcinoma respectively with cut-point 50%. Also there was no difference in PTEN expression between atypical complex hyperplasia and endometrioid carcinoma but there was significant difference between simple hyperplasia and proliferative with endometrioid carcinoma & atypical complex hyperplasia.
Conclusion: These results show loss of PTEN expression in endmetrioid carcinoma and no differences between endometrioid carcinoma and atypical complex hyperplasia. Therefore, assessment of PTEN expression by negative immunostaining and matched with routine hematoxylin and eosin stained can be a new tool for diagnosis of endometrioid carcinoma.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 !mso]> ject classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id=ieooui> Background: Glycoconjugates are a class of cell surface glycoproteins, the terminal sugars of which are important indicators of neoplasia and the aberrant biological behavior of cancer cells. Lectins are a class of plant or animal glycoproteins that specifically bind to the terminal sugars of glycoconjugates. The aim of the present study is to identify the presence of L-fucose in cell surface glycoconjugates and extracellular matrix glycoconjugates of cancer cells of different grades of colonic adenocarcinoma.
Methods: Paraffin blocks of colonic adenocarcinoma tissue from 30 patients were collected from the Pathology Department of Khatam Al Anbia Hospital in Zahedan, Iran. Sections, 5-7μm thick, were prepared and stained using hematoxylin and eosin. Sections were graded histopathologically and then stained using the lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA, 10μm/mL), which binds specifically to L-fucose, and Alcian blue (pH=2.5). Sections were graded blindly according to lectin staining intensity on a scale of 0-3. Collected data were analyzed using Kruskall-Wallis and Mann Whitney nonparametric tests with SPSS.
Results: Our results show that there is a significant difference in the staining intensity for L-fucose between tumoral cells of different grades of colon carcinoma (p<0.001). Results show that the degree of UEA lectin binding to cancer cells is lower in the cytoplasm and nucleus and higher in the extracellular matrix in tumors, with the degree increasing with histopathological grade. Furthermore, staining intensity differs in different portions of cancer cells.
Conclusions: The increased staining intensity of L-fucose in the extracellular matrix of colon carcinoma is a reflection of the aberrant protein glycosylation pathway in neoplasia.

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Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Background: Port-site metastasis following laparoscopic cholecystectomy with unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma is a serious problem. Gallbladder carcinoma is found in 1% of all biliary tract operations, in most being diagnosed only after histological examination of the gallbladder. The spread of cancer following laparoscopy appears aggressive and widespread, as noticed from re-operation for radical treatment. The pathologic findings of gallbladder were consisting of tumoral and necrotic tissue, indicating of well differentiated adenocarcinoma. Mucosa and submucosa were involved, but no evidence of invasion to muscular layer and gall bladder serosa was found (T1). In this article we present the first of an unusual case of four port site adenocarcinoma metastasis from gallbladder cancer.
Case report: A 63 year old woman underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. Thirty months later, she was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of masses at the four trocar sites. A biopsy from the port sites was undertaken and led to the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma metastasis. There is no published report of all four port site metastasis of gallbladder cancer after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.