Gallbladder Cancer with Human Chorionic Gonadotropin-Positive Tumor Cells: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-positive gallbladder cancer (GBC) is extremely rare and is associated with aggressive biological behavior and a poor prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: An 84-year-old woman presented with locally advanced GBC with right hepatic artery encasement. After 2 courses of gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab therapy, tumor progression was controlled, and radical surgery was planned. The patient underwent an extended cholecystectomy with adjacent liver resection, extrahepatic bile duct resection, and biliary reconstruction via Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Histological examination revealed adenocarcinoma containing HCG-positive tumor cells, and the pathological response to chemotherapy was poor. The patient developed a recurrence 9 months after surgery. Although chemotherapy was reintroduced after recurrence, the disease showed a limited response, and the patient eventually died 20 months after the initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: HCG-positive GBC is a rare and aggressive disease. Although surgical resection may be feasible in selected cases, the prognosis remains poor.