Carcinoid tumors are derived from Kultschitzky cells and often found in the appendix, ileum, rectum and bronchus. Primary biliary tract carcinoids are extremely rare. As far as we have been able to determine, only 26 cases of the carcinoid tumors
have
ever been reported, of which 17 have been of the gallblader. Recently, authors experienced two cases of carcinoid tumor of the gallbladder, one case being a 44-year-old male with progressive jaundice, and other a 46-year-old female suffering from
right
upper quadrant abdominal pain, which could not be accurately diagnosed preoperatively. The exploratory surgeries were performed on the assumptions that the one patient had cholangiocarcinoma and the other an empyema of the gallbladder. The former
revealed that a cancerous mass of the cystic duct had been directly invaded to the adjacent common hepatic duct, proximal common bile duct, portal vein and celiac lymph nodes. The latter revealed that a hard gallbladder mass, which was considered
unresectable, had also invaded to the liver, duodenum and celiac lymph nodes. Only cholecystectomy and drainage procedures with f-tube were performed. Histopathologically, the tumors of the gallbladder wee demonstrated to be carcinoids.
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