A CASE OF CANCER OF THE GALLBLADDER WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF ALPHAFETOPROTEIN (AFP)

This paper presents a case of gallbladder cancer with a high level of AFP, 34, 230.9 ng/ml. A 71-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of a palpable tumor below the right costal margin. Based on various examinations the patient was diagnosed as having a gallbladder cancer. Extended resection of the gallbladder was carried out. Histopathologically most part of this tumor was comparsed of hepatoid tubular adenocarcinoma and the other part papillary type. Immunohistochemically, the carcinoma cells showed positive staining for AFP at the part of hepatoid pattern, and PIVKA-II was also positive. After the operation, the level of AFP converted to negative. It was suggested that carcinoma cells produced AFP. The AFP pattern analyzed by Dowble afinity electrophoresis with concanavalin A and Lens culinaris agglutinin was similar to hepatocellular carcinoma rather than yolk sac tumors. AFP-prognosis. Further studies about correlation with the AFP productivity are strongly expected.