Gallbladder cancer is a rare, hard-to-detect GI malignancy arising in the gallbladder mucosal lining (22nd most common cancer worldwide).
Histologic Types of Gallbladder Cancer
• Adenocarcinoma (~90%): Non-papillary, Papillary (better prognosis), Mucinous Adenocarcinoma.
• Other Types: Squamous cell, Adenosquamous, Sarcoma, Lymphoma, Small cell neuroendocrine.
Symptoms & Diagnostic Procedures
Symptoms: Upper right belly pain/bloating, palpable lesion, weight loss, post-meal pain, vomiting, Jaundice (yellow skin/eyes), itchy skin, dark urine, pale lumpy stools.
Diagnostics: Liver blood tests, CT/MRI, Laparoscopy, Ultrasound guided needle biopsy, MRCP bile duct scan, MRA blood vessels, ERCP endoscopic contrast.
Surgical Resection & Palliative Care
Surgery: Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) or Radical resection (removing gallbladder + liver wedge & bile duct).
Palliative Management: Biliary Stent / Biliary Catheter / Biliary Bypass to relieve jaundice obstruction.
Prevention: Weight control, alcohol & tobacco avoidance, healthy diet.