What is Gallbladder Cancer

  Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary tract. 90% of patients have an age of onset over 50 years old, averaging 59.6 years old, and the incidence in women is 3-4 times that in men.  Etiology: There is no clear etiology, but 70% of patients are related to the existence of gallbladder stones, and the time between gallbladder stones and gallbladder cancer is as long as 10-15 years. The result of a combination of factors such as chronic inflammation of the mucosa and carcinogenic substances in the products of infected bacteria. In addition, the gallbladder jejunostomy many years ago, completely calcified “porcelain” gallbladder, gallbladder adenoma, abnormal biliopancreatic duct, ulcerative colitis, etc. are all carcinogenic factors.  Pathology: Staging: Stage I: in situ carcinoma in the mucosa; Stage II: invasion of mucosa and muscle layer; Stage III: invasion of the whole gallbladder wall; Stage IV: invasion of the whole gallbladder wall and surrounding lymph nodes; Stage V: invasion or metastasis to the liver and other organs.  Treatment: Surgery is the first choice for the treatment of gallbladder cancer. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy are not effective. Surgical methods: 1. simple cholecystectomy, 2. radical resection of gallbladder cancer, 3. extended radical surgery of gallbladder cancer, 4. palliative surgery.  Prevention: Although the incidence of gallbladder cancer caused by gallbladder stones is quite low, the prognosis of gallbladder cancer is poor even if it is treated surgically, so it is very important to prevent its occurrence. Gallbladder polyps are mostly cholesterol polyps, <1 cm in diameter and often multiple. In symptomatic patients, cholecystectomy should be performed only for gallbladder stones of 3 cm in diameter, gallbladder polyps of 1 cm in diameter or broad-based polyps, or clinically diagnosed adenomatous polyps, or "porcelain" gallbladder.