Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder Cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the gallbladder. This is a relatively rare form of cancer. The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ. It sits beneath the liver and stores bile until it is needed by the digestive system. Bile is a greenish-yellow digestive fluid produced by the liver that helps in the digestion of fat. Cancer occurs when cells in the body (in this case gallbladder cells) divide without control or order. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant tumors, which can invade nearby tissues and can spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor does not invade or spread.

Causes

The exact cause of Gallbladder Cancer is unknown.

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chances of getting a disease or condition.
  • Sex: Female
  • Having gallstones

Symptoms

Gallbladder Cancer often shows no symptoms in its early stages. As the disease progresses, symptoms associated with bile obstruction often develop. These include:
  • Abdominal pain
  • Jaundice
Other symptoms may include:
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever
  • Liver and spleen enlargement

Diagnosis

Gallbladder Cancer is often hard to diagnose because:
  • The disease often shows no early symptoms
  • The symptoms often mimic those of other gallbladder conditions (such as gallstones)
  • The gallbladder is hidden by other organs in the abdomen
Gallbladder Cancer is sometimes discovered during abdominal surgery for another reason. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Tests may include:
  • Blood Tests – Testing to check levels of bilirubin (part of the bile) and liver enzymes.
  • Ultrasound – A test that uses sound waves to examine internal organs, in this case, the gallbladder and bile ducts.
  • CT Scan – A type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of the inside of the body, in this case, the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and surrounding tissues.
  • Cholangiography – An invasive test that uses x-rays and a large needle inserted into the liver to examine the gall bladder and bile ducts. This can be done to collect cells from the bile ducts to help diagnosis cancer.
  • ERCP Test – A test that combines x-rays and an endoscope, which is a long, flexible, lighted tube inserted down the throat. This is done to examine the duodenum (first part of the small intestine), bile ducts, and pancreatic ducts. It can also be used to collect cells to help diagnose cancer.
A biopsy, which is the removal of a sample of tissue for testing, must be done to definitively diagnose gallbladder cancer. This often requires open surgery.

Treatment

Once Gallbladder Cancer is found, staging tests are performed to find out if the cancer has spread and, if so, to what extent. Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer. For advanced cancers, treatment is done only to help relieve symptoms. Treatments include:
Surgery – Surgical removal of the gallbladder, called cholecystectomy. Part of the liver and lymph nodes near the gallbladder may also be removed. In some cases, surgery is done to relieve symptoms by opening obstructed bile ducts. ERCP may also be used for this purpose.
Radiation Therapy (or Radiotherapy) – The use of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation is most often administered from a source outside the body.
Chemotherapy –The use of drugs to kill cancer cells. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body killing mostly cancer cells, but also some healthy cells. Chemotherapy is not considered curative for gallbladder cancer, but may relieve symptoms in some patients.

Prevention

There are no guidelines for preventing gallbladder cancer because the cause is usually not known. There may be an association with gallstones, but because Gallbladder Cancer is rare, doctors do not recommend the routine removal of gallbladders in people with asymptomatic gallstones as a means to prevent cancer.