Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40921875›Full record

ReviewJournal of gastrointestinal cancer2025

Gallbladder Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Diffuse β-hCG Expression: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Shengliang He, Dustin E Bosch, Alan Hemming

Abstract readCase ReportsReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of gastrointestinal cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Shengliang HeDepartment of Surgery, Division of Transplant & Hepatobiliary Surgery, Organ Transplant Center, University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA, USA. shengliang-he@uiowa.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7121-5664
Dustin E BoschDepartment of Pathology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7430-2939
Alan HemmingDepartment of Surgery, Division of Transplant & Hepatobiliary Surgery, Organ Transplant Center, University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1726-5967

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeGallbladder squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare subtype of gallbladder malignancy, comprising only 1-4% of cases. Ectopic expression of β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) has been described in various epithelial cancers and is associated with aggressive behavior. We report the first known case of gallbladder SCC with diffuse β-hCG expression and markedly elevated serum β-hCG levels, aiming to explore its clinicopathological implications and potential as a prognostic biomarker.

methodsWe present the clinical, radiologic, surgical, and pathological findings of a patient with a large gallbladder mass. A literature review was conducted to contextualize our findings.

resultsThe patient underwent open cholecystectomy with hepatic segment IVb/V resection. Final pathology revealed poorly differentiated SCC with acantholytic features and diffuse β-hCG immunoreactivity. Two metastatic lymph nodes were identified in the low hepatoduodenal nodal basin. Postoperative serum β-hCG was significantly elevated. Despite surgical resection, the patient experienced rapid disease recurrence and progression.

conclusionThis case represents the first documented instance of β-hCG-expressing gallbladder SCC. Diffuse β-hCG expression may reflect a dedifferentiated and aggressive tumor phenotype associated with early metastasis and poor prognosis. Further studies are warranted to investigate the prognostic and biological significance of β-hCG in gallbladder SCC and its potential role as a biomarker.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Squamous CellChorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, HumanGallbladder NeoplasmsBiomarkers, TumorCholecystectomyHumansPrognosisBiomarkers, TumorChorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, HumanBiomarkerGallbladder squamous cell carcinomaTumor biologyβ-human chorionic gonadotropin

Identifiers

PMID40921875
PMCPMC12417271

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.