Gallbladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (tumor) cells affect the tissues of the gallbladder.
Occurs traditionally over the age of 50 years, more often in women.
Some of the risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing gallbladder cancer are currently known:
- Gallbladder stones and inflammation
- Typhoid fever.
- Common bile duct cysts
- smoking cigarettes
- Occupational hazards
- Malformations of the pancreatobiliary zone
- Age
- Gallbladder polyps
- Obesity
- Diet
However, the presence of one or even several of these factors does not necessarily mean the development of cancer.
Symptoms
Abdominal pain. More than 50% of patients with gallbladder cancer have abdominal pain, which is more often localized in the right upper abdomen.
Nausea and vomiting occur in half of patients with gallbladder tumors.
Jaundice. Yellowish staining of the sclera and skin is present in 25-50% of patients with gallbladder cancer at the time of diagnosis of the disease.
Enlargement of the gallbladder. Violation of the outflow of bile from the gallbladder leads to its increase, which can be detected by examining the abdomen and ultrasound (ultrasound).
Of the other symptoms of a tumor of the gallbladder, there is a decrease in appetite, weight loss, an increase in the size of the abdomen, severe itching, and black stools.
Diagnostics
Alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase levels may be helpful in diagnosing gallbladder disease.
Treatment
Surgery is the only treatment that can cure a person with gallbladder cancer. If only the gallbladder is affected, it is removed.
If the tumor has spread non-cardinally to surrounding tissues, including the liver and lymph nodes, then surgery may also be possible in a number of patients.
Other treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy, are not effective for gallbladder cancer.