Gallbladder Cancers: General Overview

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/04/01 - Updated: 2023/01/28
Category Topic: Cancer and Tumors - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Information regarding Gallbladder Cancers which includes cancers that are formed in tissues of the gallbladder and the bile ducts in the liver. Gallbladder cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose early because there aren't any noticeable signs or symptoms in the early stages of the disease, and the symptoms of gallbladder cancer, when present, are like the symptoms of many other illnesses.

Defining Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder Cancer: Gallbladder cancer is a relatively uncommon cancer, with an incidence of fewer than 2 cases per 100,000 people per year in the United States. The gallbladder is a small, pear-shaped organ on the right side of the abdomen, just beneath your liver. The gallbladder stores bile, a digestive fluid produced by your liver. Gallbladder cancer is prevalent in central and South America, east and central Europe, Japan, and northern India; it is also common in certain ethnic groups, e.g., Native American Indians and Hispanics. If it is diagnosed early enough, it can be cured by removing the gallbladder, part of the liver, and associated lymph nodes. It is often found after symptoms such as abdominal pain, jaundice, and vomiting and has spread to other organs such as the liver.

Introduction

Alternate Names: Cholangiocarcinoma, Klatskin tumor, Biliary Duct cancer.

Gallbladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the gallbladder. It begins in the innermost layer of tissue and spreads through the outer layers as it grows.

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) has included Gallbladder Cancer as a Compassionate Allowance to expedite a disability claim.

Main Content

Gallbladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the gallbladder. It begins in the innermost layer of tissue and spreads through the outer layers as it grows.

Bile duct cancer is cancer that forms in a bile duct. Bile duct cancer may be found inside the liver (intrahepatic) or outside the liver (extrahepatic).

Klatskin tumor is a type of cholangiocarcinoma that develops where the right and left bile ducts meet.

Risk factors for gallbladder cancer are greatest for females and Native Americans.

Symptoms may include jaundice; pain above the stomach; fever, nausea and vomiting; bloating; and lumps in the abdomen.

Continued below image.

The diagram shows the location of the human Gall bladder in relation to the location of the Stomach, Common bile duct, Pancreatic duct, and Duodenum.

Continued...

Gallbladder cancer is difficult to detect and diagnose early because there aren't any noticeable signs or symptoms in the early stages of the disease, and the symptoms of gallbladder cancer, when present, are like the symptoms of many other illnesses.

Gallbladder cancer is sometimes found when the gallbladder is removed for other reasons. Individuals with gallstones rarely develop gallbladder cancer.

Tests that examine the gallbladder and nearby organs are used to detect, diagnose, and stage gallbladder cancer. The following tests and procedures may be used:

MRI
MRA
PTC
CT scan.
Endoscopy
Chest x-ray.
Ultrasound exam.
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) assay.
Biopsy and laparoscopy to remove the tumor.
Physical exam and history to check for lumps.
CA 19-9 assay to measure the level of CA 19-9 in the blood.
Liver function tests that measure the amounts of substances released into the blood by the liver.
Blood chemistry studies to measure the amounts of substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body.

Cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer can be cured only if it is found before it has spread, and they can be removed by surgery. Bile duct cancer (tumor) cannot be completely removed by surgery and is incurable. If cancer has spread, palliative treatment can improve the patient's quality of life by controlling the symptoms and complications of this disease.

Cholangiocarcinoma generally causes progressive liver failure. Gallbladder cancer can invade the liver, disseminate into lymph nodes, or spread as intra-peritoneal metastases.

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.