Journals / Cerrahi Sanatlar Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 19

Intestinal metaplasia of gallbladder diagnosed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patient with Dubin-Johnson syndrome; Does hyperbilirubinemia protect against gallbladder cancer development?

Dubin-Johnson sendromlu bir olguda laparoskopik kolesistektomi sonrası saptanan safra kesesi inestinal metaplazisi: Hiperbilirubineminin safra kesesi kanseri gelişimine karşı koruyucu etkisi olabilir mi?

Ali Bekraki(Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Hamidiye Tıp Fakültesi)0000-0002-9396-6124
Ali Levent Işık(SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, İSTANBUL BAŞAKŞEHİR ÇAM VE SAKURA ŞEHİR SAĞLIK UYGULAMA VE ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, CERRAHİ TIP BİLİMLERİ BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0002-3666-1084
Pages
9–13
Publication Date
2026-04-01
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings highlight the importance of routine histopathological evaluation of cholecystectomy specimens, even in cases where DJS is discovered incidentally, to facilitate early detection of potential premalignant changes.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This manuscript describes the incidental diagnosis of Dubin–Johnson Syndrome (DJS), a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by impaired hepatic bilirubin excretion and the hallmark appearance of a grossly black liver, in a 34-year-old female who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis.
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Key Findings & Data:Additionally, examination of the resected gallbladder revealed focal intestinal metaplasia—an established premalignant lesion associated with an increased risk of gallbladder carcinoma.
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Conclusion & Impact:These findings highlight the importance of routine histopathological evaluation of cholecystectomy specimens, even in cases where DJS is discovered incidentally, to facilitate early detection of potential premalignant changes.
🔬Design:Editöre Mektup
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Dubin-Johnson sendromu · İntestinal metaplazisi · Safra kesesi kanseri

Abstract

This manuscript describes the incidental diagnosis of Dubin–Johnson Syndrome (DJS), a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by impaired hepatic bilirubin excretion and the hallmark appearance of a grossly black liver, in a 34-year-old female who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis. The patient presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain and mild hyperbilirubinemia. Intraoperatively, the liver was noted to have a strikingly dark pigmentation, prompting a biopsy. Histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of DJS. Additionally, examination of the resected gallbladder revealed focal intestinal metaplasia—an established premalignant lesion associated with an increased risk of gallbladder carcinoma. This report underscores the rare coexistence of DJS and gallstone disease and confirms that the presence of DJS does not complicate laparoscopic cholecystectomy or predispose to postoperative cholestasis. To our knowledge, this is the first documented case of intestinal metaplasia of the gallbladder in a patient with DJS. These findings highlight the importance of routine histopathological evaluation of cholecystectomy specimens, even in cases where DJS is discovered incidentally, to facilitate early detection of potential premalignant changes.

Özet

Bu yazıda, semptomatik kolelitiazis nedeniyle laparoskopik kolesistektomi uygulanan 34 yaşındaki bir kadında, nadir görülen ve otozomal resesif kalıtım gösteren Dubin–Johnson Sendromu’nun (DJS) rastlantısal tanısı anlatılmaktadır. DJS, hepatik bilirubin atılımında bozulma ve karakteristik olarak belirgin siyah renkli karaciğer görünümü ile tanımlanan bir hastalıktır. Hasta, sağ üst kadranda karın ağrısı ve hafif hiperbilirubinemi ile başvurmuştur. Operasyon sırasında karaciğerin belirgin koyu pigmentasyonu fark edilmiş ve bu durum biyopsi yapılmasına neden olmuştur. Histopatolojik inceleme sonucunda DJS tanısı doğrulanmıştır. Ek olarak, çıkarılan safra kesesinin incelenmesinde odak intestinal metaplazi saptanmıştır; bu lezyon, safra kesesi karsinomu gelişme riski ile ilişkilendirilen bilinen premalign bir değişikliktir. Bu olgu, DJS ile safra taşı hastalığının nadir birlikteliğini vurgulamakta ve DJS varlığının laparoskopik kolesistektomiye engel oluşturmadığını ya da postoperatif kolestaza yatkınlık yaratmadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Bildiğimiz kadarıyla, DJS tanısı almış bir hastada safra kesesi intestinal metaplazisinin rapor edildiği ilk olgudur. Bu bulgular, DJS tanısı rastlantısal olarak konmuş olsa bile, olası premalign değişikliklerin erken saptanabilmesi açısından kolesistektomi materyallerinin rutin histopatolojik değerlendirilmesinin önemini ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Bekraki, A., Işık, A. L. (2026). Intestinal metaplasia of gallbladder diagnosed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patient with Dubin-Johnson syndrome; Does hyperbilirubinemia protect against gallbladder cancer development?. Cerrahi Sanatlar Dergisi, Cilt: 19, 9–13. https://doi.org/10.4717/jsa.1780311

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