Gallbladder cancer natural history

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vamsikrishna Gunnam M.B.B.S [2]

Depending on the extent of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis may vary. However, the prognosis is generally regarded as poor.

• Most tumors are adenocarcinomas, with a small percent being squamous cell carcinomas.

• The cancer commonly spreads to the liver, pancreas, stomach and duodenum.

• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Bloating
• Confusion
• Pancreatitis
• Acute Cholangitis
• Fever

• The survival rate depends on the extent of cancer at the time of diagnosis with gallbladder cancer and early detection is the key for good prognosis

• Gallbladder cancer has an overall 5-year survival rate less than 5%.
• Advances in perioperative care has markedly improved outcomes.^[1]
• Recent Improvements in surgical techniques have resulted in a decline of both morbidity and mortality of the gallbladder cancer prognosis.
• 5-year survival rate is seen in patients who undergo R0 curative resection.^[2][3]
• Only 2–8 months survival rate has been noticed by French Surgical Association with T3/T4 tumours.
• Identified independent predictors such as age, tumour grade,T1 subtype, tumour histology, radiation, and surgery type.
• The prognosis is not good for most gallbladder cancer patients if the cancer is detected in its late stages. ^[4]
• Among all the histological types papillary carcinomas are having one of the best prognosis.^[5]
• Intramural invasion is seen in adenocarcinomas and are associated with worst prognosis, whether or not the tumor can be removed by surgery.^[6]
• The prognosis of the cancer also can depends on the following factors:
  • Stage of the cancer
  • Size of the tumor, whether the cancer has spread outside the gallbladder
  • Patient’s general health

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