Gall bladder cancer

Gall bladder cancer is a common cancer of biliary system, and is usually diagnosed at advanced stage

Risk factors are:

Large stone in gall bladder

Porcelain gall bladder (calcification of gall bladder wall)

Anomalous union of pancreatico-biliary ductal system

Adenomyomatosis

Family history of gall bladder cancer

Symptoms of gall bladder cancer are:

Persistent pain in upper abdomen

Jaundice

Weight lossc

Loss of appetite

Itching

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is suspected on ultrasonography, which may show irregular thickening of gall bladder wall, or may show mass lesion

CECT abdomen is the better modality for evaluation of suspected gall bladder cancer patients, and give information regarding the resectability

Treatment:

Surgery offers the best chance of cure, however less than 20 % of cases are operable at time of presentation

In unrespectable patients, diagnosis is confirmed by FNA and microscopy, and chemotherapy can be started, which however has only limited role

ERCP and stenting can be done in patients with advanced tumors, for palliation of itching, cholangitis