Gallbladder Cancer
Gallbladder cancer is relatively rare but aggressive. It is often discovered incidentally during gallbladder surgery for gallstones. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea, and unexplained weight loss.
Surgical Treatment
- Simple Cholecystectomy: For very early-stage (T1a) cancers confined to the mucosal layer
- Radical Cholecystectomy: For more advanced stages, includes removal of gallbladder with liver bed resection and lymph node dissection
- Hepatic Resection: Wedge or segmental liver resection when cancer extends into the liver
Prognosis
Early-stage gallbladder cancer (Stage I) has a 5-year survival rate of approximately 69%. Early detection through prompt evaluation of gallbladder symptoms is critical.