Chromosomal structural analysis in carcinoma of the gallbladder.

BACKGROUND: The etiopathogenesis of gallbladder cancer is still unknown. Both environmental and patient factors have been incriminated in its cause. That it is found in pockets of epidemiological distribution raises an issue of genetic changes associated with it. The aim of this study was to find out the chromosomal changes in gallbladder cancer. METHODS: Lymphocyte cell culture was carried out on blood of gallbladder cancer patients to determine chromosomal banding abnormalities. Native PAGE was also evaluated to analyze lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase enzyme activity from the same blood of gallbladder cancer patients. RESULTS: Out of 30 gallbladder cancer patients, 4 male showed breakage on the long arm of chromosome 1 while only one male patient showed the translocation from the long arm of chromosome 4 to the long arm of chromosome 6 in a male patient. CONCLUSION: The aberrations found in our study may suggest underlying genetic predisposition for the development of gallbladder cancer. They can act as a marker for gallbladder cancer, which needs further study.

Fever, anemia, and splenomegaly: A rare presentation of splenic angiosarcoma.

Splenic angiosarcoma is a rare neoplasm that often remains asymptomatic till the onset of massive intra abdominal bleeding that require emergency splenectomy. We report here a case of 60 year old male who presented with on and off fever and a splenomegaly was found on clinical examination suggesting a lymphoproliferative disorder. A contrast enhanced computerized tomography suggested splenic trauma with intracapsular bleed. A splenectomy was carried out that revealed splenic angiosarcoma. Splenomegaly and fever is a very rare presentation of angiosarcoma. Though rare it should be kept in mind when investigating pyrexia of unknown origin.