A Case of Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in the Hilar Bile Duct

Korean J Med > Volume 80(2); 2011 > Article

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Medicine 2011;80(2):137-141.

A Case of Large Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in the Hilar Bile Duct

So Youn Park1, Sang Hyub Lee2, Ji Yeon Kim1, Ju Hee Park1, Hyuk Yoon1, Yoo Seok Yoon3, Hae Ryoung Kim4

간문부 담관에서 발생한 대세포 신경내분비종양 1예

박소연1, 이상협2, 김지연1, 박주희1, 윤혁1, 윤유석3, 김혜령4

Abstract

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bile duct is rare, and a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is extremely rare. We report the first case of a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the hilar bile duct. A 73-year-old woman presented with continuous dull pain in the epigastrium. We diagnosed a Klatskin’s tumor, Bismuth type II by computed tomography. An initial endoscopic cytology of the common hepatic duct showed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. She underwent an extended right hepatectomy. Histologically, the tumor was diagnosed as a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. She received adjuvant radiotherapy for tumor involvement of the resected margin. At 12 months after surgery, lymph node metastases were present in the retroperitoneum, but she was still alive at 23 months after surgery. The role of additional therapy, such as radiotherapy, must be investigated to improve patient prognoses.

Key Words: Neuroendocrine carcinoma; Klatskin’s tumor