Surgical Gastroenterology | Gall Bladder Cancer

Gall Bladder Cancer

Overview

The gall bladder is the pear-shaped organ beneath the liver that stores the digestive juice bile. In cases of Gall bladder cancer, there will be growths of abnormal cells in the gall bladder.

Signs and symptoms

Gall bladder cancer causes abdominal bloating and pain, sudden weight loss, yellowing of the skin and eyes. The extremely recessed position of the gall bladder makes it easy for the undetected growth of cancerous cells to occur.

Causes and risk factors

The changes in the DNA of the cells of the gall bladder causes tumour formation leading to Gall Bladder Cancer. The potential risk factors that increase the chances of developing Gall Bladder Cancer are presence of gall stones, presence of gall bladder polyps, old age, a family history of gall bladder cancer condition and smoking tobacco.

Complications

Complications of Gall Bladder Cancer include tumour recurrence, jaundice and intra-abdominal pain.

Diagnosis

Blood tests are used to diagnose the Gall Bladder Cancer. Ultrasound, Computerised Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are used to understand the stage of cancer if blood tests are positive.

Surgery

Depending on the stage of cancer, a surgical option is chosen; for the early stage cholecystectomy is performed in which gall bladder is removed; in case the liver is infected then the along with the gall bladder, the affected liver portion also would be removed. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted drug therapy would be used to restrict the growth of the cancerous cells.

Prevention

As Gall Bladder Cancer is challenging to treat due to its critical location, prevention is the safest option. But the role of factors like age, sex, ethnicity, etc. in developing Gall Bladder Cancer cannot be controlled, so maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle and seeking medical consultation when in doubt advisable.