Hepatic metastasis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for polypoid gallbladder cancer followed by radical surgery

While laparoscopic cholecystectomy is being increasingly performed on patients with gallbladder disease, this approach in cases of polypoid lesions in the gallbladder may not always be justified. We report here a case of early development of intrahepatic metastasis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for polypoid gallbladder cancer; wedge resection of the gallbladder bed and dissection of regional lymph nodes had to be done. When a malignancy of the gallbladder is suspected during preoperative examinations, open cholecystectomy should be done.