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- cancer
- gallbladder
gallbladder cancer
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What is gallbladder cancer?
Gallbladder cancer is a disease marked by malignant cell growth in the gallbladder. It is a rare condition that is often detected after it has spread to other organs, which results in poor survival rates. Around 60 to 70 percent of gallbladder cancers are discovered following gallbladder removal for benign diseases such as gallstones or gallbladder inflammation.
Several factors can increase the risk of gallbladder cancer. Long-term inflammation from chronic gallstones can elevate the likelihood of tumors by promoting genetic mutations. The larger the gallstones, the greater the risk. Symptoms of gallbladder cancer can include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, nausea, and vomiting.
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Where is the gallbladder located in the body?
The gallbladder is a muscular, membranous sac that stores and concentrates bile. It is situated beneath the liver and has a capacity of about 50 ml. The gallbladder wall's inner surface is lined with mucous-membrane tissue similar to that of the small intestine. The gallbladder discharges bile through the bile duct into the duodenum of the small intestine. The bile duct comprises three branches arranged in a Y shape: the common bile duct, the hepatic duct (leading to the liver), and the cystic duct (leading to the gallbladder).
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What are common symptoms of gallbladder cancer?
Symptoms of gallbladder cancer can be vague and may include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Some patients develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes), abdominal distension, and itching. Early gallbladder cancer can be asymptomatic, and symptoms that develop later may indicate the cancer has progressed to an incurable state.
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How is gallbladder cancer diagnosed?
Gallbladder cancer diagnosis involves several methods because early cancers are often asymptomatic.
Diagnostic approaches include:
* Ultrasound Usually the first study when gallstone-related disease is suspected. It can reveal thickened walls and masses but may not confirm gallbladder cancer conclusively.
* CT scans Help assess the tumor's growth and spread.
* MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) Visualizes the gallbladder's anatomy and distinguishes between benign and malignant lesions.
* Biopsy Typically avoided before surgery due to the risk of spreading tumor cells.1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are possible risk factors for developing gallbladder cancer?
Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease where malignant cells grow in the gallbladder. Several factors can elevate the risk of developing this cancer. Long-term inflammation from chronic gallstones can trigger genetic mutations that lead to tumor development. The risk increases with the size of gallstones, especially those larger than 3 cm.
Additionally, long-term infections from bacteria like Salmonella typhi, a family history of colorectal cancer, obesity, and exposure to certain chemicals like radon may also increase the risk. Women are more prone to gallbladder cancer, and the likelihood of developing it increases with age.
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What treatments are available for gallbladder cancer?
Gallbladder cancer treatments depend on the cancer's stage at diagnosis. Options include simple cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder only) or radical cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder, specific bile ducts, regional lymph nodes, and parts of the liver). Additional treatments are radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and palliative care, or a combination.
Obstructive jaundice is generally the first sign of biliary tract cancer. Physicians may relieve obstructive jaundice by passing tubular stents through the obstruction, using endoscopic or radiologic techniques.
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gallbladder cancer, disease characterized by the growth of malignant cells in the gallbladder. Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease and often is detected only after cancer cells have metastasized (spread) to other organs, resulting in poor survival rates. About 60 to 70 percent of gallbladder cancers are found incidentally following cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder) for otherwise benign diseases, such as cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder) or gallstones (cholelithiasis).
Gallbladder cancer affects women more often than men, and its incidence increases with age. The disease has unusually high rates of incidence among Native Americans in both North and South America. Some of the highest incidence rates are found in populations in the Andes Mountains of South America (particularly in Chile and Bolivia), in Mexican American populations, and in peoples living in northern India. Incidence is also high in South Korea.
Risk factors
A number of risk factors are associated with the development of gallbladder cancer. The presence of long-term inflammation, such as that associated with chronic gallstones, can increase the likelihood of tumours, possibly by creating an environment that promotes genetic mutations that then lead to tumour development. The larger the gallstones (e.g., larger than 3 cm [1.2 inches] in diameter), the higher the risk of gallbladder cancer. Although gallstones are present in about 85 percent of gallbladder cancer patients, however, only a small fraction of individuals with gallstones develop cancer.
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Long-term infection with different types of bacteria, particularly Salmonella typhi, is also associated with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer. Risk is also increased in persons who have a family history of colorectal cancer, specifically conditions such as Gardner syndrome and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC). Other possible risk factors include obesity and exposure to certain chemical substances (e.g., radon).
Symptoms
Symptoms of gallbladder cancer tend to be vague. They can include abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Some patients develop jaundice (yellowing of the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes), abdominal distension, and itching. Early cancer, however, may be asymptomatic; when symptoms develop later, the cancer is likely to have progressed to an incurable state.
Diagnosis and treatment
Various approaches are used to diagnose the presence of gallbladder cancer. Ultrasound is the usual diagnostic study when gallstone-related disease is suspected. Ultrasound can show thickened walls and masses; however, it may not give a conclusive diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. Computed tomography (CT) scanning can be used to assess the extent of tumour growth and spread. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) may be used to visualize the local anatomy of the gallbladder and to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions. Biopsy of the gallbladder prior to surgery usually is not undertaken owing to an increased risk of tumour cells’ spreading to surrounding tissues.
The treatment of gallbladder cancer depends on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed. Staging determines the extent to which the cancer has grown or spread from the primary site (initial site of development). Treatment options include simple cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder only), radical cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder, excision of specific bile ducts, removal of regional lymph nodes, and removal of parts of the liver), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, palliative care, or some combination thereof.
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