Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the gallbladder is a very rare location
of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphomas. A patient with a primary
non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the gallbladder is reported and in addition, the
English literature is reviewed. Clinical presentation, diagnostic
evaluation, histopathologic findings, treatment modalities and prognosis
of primary gallbladder lymphomas reported up to date are reviewed and
discussed. Our patient was diagnosed as a T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma,
after cholecystectomy, and had no evidence of disease elsewhere. She was
treated with combination chemotherapy and complete remission was
achieved. She remains free of disease 9 years later. Review of the
literature over a 30-year period revealed only 12 cases of
well-documented primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma involvement of the
gallbladder, including the present case. Patients present clinically
with symptoms and signs indicating either biliary tract pathology or a
gastrointestinal tumor. Diagnostic investigation included ultrasound of
the upper abdomen, computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis, oral
cholecystography, percutaneous cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde
cholangiopangreatography. Preoperative diagnosis was established in none
of the patients. Treatment modalities included surgery and postoperative
chemotherapy and irradiation. The prognosis is overall poor and only 2
patients are alive after 1 and 9 years respectively, the latter being
our case. Here we document the first reported case of a patient with
primary T-cell lymphoblastic non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the gallbladder.
Review of the literature shows the existence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of
the gallbladder, its rarity and its general dismal prognosis
