Gall Bladder Cancer
Gallbladder cancer is one of the more common cancers of the biliary system and is often detected only when it has already reached an advanced stage.
Risk Factors for Gallbladder Cancer:
- Presence of a large gallbladder stone
- Porcelain gallbladder (calcification of the gallbladder wall)
- Abnormal connection between the pancreatic and bile ducts
- Adenomyomatosis
- Family history of gallbladder cancer
Symptoms of Gallbladder Cancer:
- Persistent upper abdominal pain
- Jaundice
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Itching
Diagnosis:
Ultrasound is usually the first test and may show irregular thickening of the gallbladder wall or a mass. Contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) is more accurate and helps assess whether the cancer can be surgically removed.
Treatment:
Surgery provides the best chance for a cure, but unfortunately less than 20% of patients are eligible for surgery at diagnosis because most cases are advanced.
In unresectable cases, diagnosis is confirmed through FNA and microscopic examination, and chemotherapy may be given, although its benefit is limited.
For patients with advanced disease, ERCP with stenting can help relieve symptoms such as itching and cholangitis by improving bile drainage.