Gallbladder Cancer Symptoms

  Gallbladder cancer is the malignant tumor of the biliary system with the highest incidence rate, and it is more likely to occur in elderly women.  Gallbladder cancer has no specific symptoms in the early stage, which is difficult to attract attention clinically. Only when jaundice or ultrasound examination reveals occupying lesion of gallbladder, it will attract attention. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as wasting, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia and ascites will appear. If there is chronic cholecystitis or gallbladder stones, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pressure pain, etc. may occur during attacks. When the tumor invades into the plasma membrane or gallbladder bed, localization symptoms appear, such as right upper abdominal pain, which may radiate to the back of shoulder. Cancer occurring in the neck of gallbladder may obstruct the gallbladder duct, causing enlargement of gallbladder, fluid accumulation and abdominal pain, and sometimes may cause acute cholecystitis and even gallbladder perforation. There are also many patients who had their gallbladder removed due to benign gallbladder diseases, and the gallbladder cancer was discovered by pathological examination after surgery, which is called accidentally discovered gallbladder cancer. When a right upper abdominal mass can be palpated it is often at an advanced stage. Obstructive jaundice is also a common manifestation of advanced gallbladder cancer.  Clinically, gallbladder cancer is mostly diagnosed in the middle and late stages, with short survival time and poor prognosis. Therefore, we should strengthen the follow-up and early diagnosis and treatment for high-risk groups of gallbladder cancer to improve the survival rate.