Gallbladder neuroendocrine neoplasms: clinical characteristics, management, and survival in nine cases

Aims : Gastrointestinal and pancreatobiliary neuroendocrine tumors (GNETs) are rare malignancies, with gallbladder neuroendocrine neoplasms (GB-NENs) representing less than 0.5% of all NETs. This study aims to describe the clinical features, management strategies, and outcomes of gallbladder neuroendocrine neoplasms treated within the West Algerian NET Network. Materials and Methods . A retrospective analysis was conducted on 9 cases of gallbladder neuroendocrine neoplasms diagnosed between December 2015 and September 2024 from a total of 301 patients with Gastrointestinal and pancreatobiliary neuroendocrine tumors. Data were collected on age, sex, clinical findings, tumor grade, Ki-67 levels, stage, management, and survival outcomes. Results . Among the 9 patients (6 females, 3 males; mean age: 58.56 years), 4 had well-differentiated NETs, and 5 had large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. Common clinical presentations included right hypochondrial pain (100%), jaundice (22%), palpable mass (33%), and weight loss (56%). Surgical resection was performed in 3 cases, achieving R0 resection with negative margins. The overall survival was 8.7 months, with those undergoing curative surgery surviving a mean of 17.7 months compared to 4.2 months for non-surgical patients. Jaundice at diagnosis was significantly associated with poorer survival (mean survival: 2.5 months vs. 10.4 months without jaundice. Conclusion . Gallbladder neuroendocrine neoplasms are rare tumors that present unique clinical challenges. This case series highlights the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive management, with jaundice at presentation serving as a critical prognostic factor. Surgical resection appears to offer potential survival benefits, though further studies are needed to refine management strategies for these rare neoplasms.