E.K. Park

Carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder: report of two cases

Adenocarcinoma is the predominant histological type of carcinoma of the gallbladder, accounting for more than 80% of all gallbladder carcinomas. In contrast, carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder is an extremely atypical subset of gallbladder malignancies. It is characterized by the presence of both epithelial and mesenchymal components. Currently, fewer than 100 cases have been reported in the English literature. Therefore, knowledge and experience regarding this disease are limited. Recently, we experienced two cases of gallbladder carcinosarcoma, which were diagnosed as gallbladder carcinoma based on the preoperative clinical and radiological examinations. Cholecystectomies were performed in both cases, and the malignant tumor cells included carcinomatous and sarcomatous components histologically. The final pathological diagnoses were carcinosarcoma of the gallbladder. We herein report these two cases of gallbladder carcinosarcoma and review the previous pertinent literature.

Lymphoepithelial cyst of pancreas: a case report

Lymphoepithelial cysts of the pancreas, which are lined by squamous epithelium and surrounded by mature lymphoid tissue, represent a rare clinicopathologic entity of cystic lesions of the pancreas and true pancreatic cysts. Here, we report a case of lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas and a review of the related Korean literature. A 58-year-old man presented to our hospital with an asymptomatic pancreatic mass and no remarkable medical history except hypertension. Physical examination and laboratory analyses showed no abnormalities. Ultrasonography (US) revealed a cystic lesion with heterogeneous internal echo within the body of the pancreas, and computed tomography (CT) revealed a low-density lesion (2.31.5 cm) with well-defined margins and lobulating contour. To further characterize the mass, a biopsy was collected via endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration. Histological examination revealed fibrous tissue and epithelial cells, but was insufficient for a definitive diagnosis. Laparotomy revealed that the mass was composed of keratinizing squamous epithelial cells surrounded by lymphoid tissue, thereby confirming the diagnosis of lymphoepithelial cyst of the pancreas.