Korean J Gastroenterol.  2013 Feb;61(2):107-109. 10.4166/kjg.2013.61.2.107.

Simultaneous Occurrence of Gallbladder Cancer in a Laundry Couple: Association between Gallbladder Cancer and Benzene

• Shim KY
• Cha SW
• Um WH
• Chun CG
• Jeong SW
• Jang JY
• Cho YD

• KMID: 1775776
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2013.61.2.107

Abstract

Gallbladder (GB) cancer occurs predominately as a biliary tract malignant tumor. It generally has a very poor prognosis, and early detection is often difficult. A variety of carcinogens have been implicated as an important cause for GB cancer. Benzene is a well-known carcinogen for hematologic malignancy, and its casual relationship with GB cancer has been suggested. We report a case of two patients who had operated a laundry cleaning facility together and later simultaneously got GB cancer after prolonged benzene exposure.

Keyword

Gallbladder neoplasms; Benzene

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma/*diagnosis/etiology/ultrasonography
Benzene/*toxicity
Female
Gallbladder Neoplasms/*diagnosis/etiology/ultrasonography
Humans
Laundering
Male
Middle Aged
Positron-Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Benzene

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Abdominal CT finding of first patient (husband). A 6×7 cm sized hypoechoic mass lesion (arrow) in gallbladder and infiltration into the liver parenchyma.

• 

  Fig. 2. CT finding of second patient (wife). A 2×2 cm sized mass lesion (arrow) in the gallbladder body with enhanced wall thickening.

Reference

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