PERITONEAL SEEDING OF GALLBLADDER CANCER AFTER LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

We report a case of peritoneal seeding of an unsuspected adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder following laparoscopic cholecystectomy despite the use of a retrieval bag. The metastasis developed at the umbilical trocar site, which was also used to extract the resected gallbladder. There was no evidence for a leak of the retrieval bag. Most likely malignant cells became desquamated during the operation, implanting themselves in the tissue during the removal of the bag. Taking into consideration previous reports and the dismal prognosis of the disease, we discuss the management in the case of an incidental carcinoma.