Gall Bladder Cancer At a Glance:

• Gallbladder cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the gallbladder.

• Being female can increase the risk of developing gallbladder cancer.

• Signs and symptoms of gallbladder cancer include jaundice, fever, and pain.

• Gallbladder cancer is difficult to detect (find) and diagnose early.

• Tests that examine the gallbladder and nearby organs are used to detect (find), diagnose, and stage gallbladder cancer.

• Certain factors affect the prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

Gallbladder cancer is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the tissues of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ that lies just under the liver in the upper abdomen. The gallbladder stores bile, a fluid made by the liver to digest fat. When food is being broken down in the stomach and intestines, bile is released from the gallbladder through a tube called the common bile duct, which connects the gallbladder and liver to the first part of the small intestine.

GENERAL

• Gender: Gallbladder cancer occurs twice as frequently in women as in men, and this may be related to the increased frequency of gallstones and chronic inflammation.
• Age: Gallbladder cancer occurs mainly in individuals over the age of 65, and the average age at diagnosis is 73.
• Ethnicity and geography: Gallbladder cancer occurs more frequently in Mexican Americans and Native Americans, while African Americans are at the lowest risk. However, gallbladder cancer is less common in the United States compared with countries in Asia, Eastern Europe and South America.

BODY

• Obesity: Being overweight or obese is a risk factor for gallbladder cancer, and may be related to the increased risk for developing gallstones.

GENETICS

• Family history: Although the genetic cause is unknown, the risk of gallbladder cancer seems to increase in families with a history of the disease.

LIFESTYLE

• Chemical exposure: Some studies have shown that exposure to certain industrial chemicals, particularly those used in the rubber and textile industries, may be linked to an increased risk of gallbladder cancer. However, the link is not certain, and more research is needed.

OTHER CONDITIONS

• Gallstones: The leading gallbladder cancer risk factor is the presence of gallstones, which are found in over 75 percent of patients with gallbladder cancer. These hard, rock-like deposits can form from cholesterol and other substances found in the bile. Gallstones can block the flow of bile, and lead to chronic inflammation. However, gallstones are very common, particularly in middle-aged women, and most people with this condition do not develop gallbladder cancer.
• Porcelain gallbladder: This is a condition where calcium deposits cover the wall of the gallbladder, and some but not all studies have suggested a link between this condition and the development of gallbladder cancer. There may be a link between chronic inflammation and the calcification of the gallbladder.
• Choledochal cysts: Bile-filled cysts may develop along the common bile duct that leads from the gallbladder and liver to the small intestine. Sometimes the lining of the cysts may develop pre-cancerous cells, increasing the risk of cancer.
• Bile duct abnormalities: Other conditions that cause the bile duct to backup or result in inflammation of the gallbladder may also be potential risk factors.
• Gallbladder polyps: These are abnormal growths that form on the gallbladder. They may be caused by cholesterol deposits or by inflammation. Larger polyps (bigger than a centimeter) have a greater chance of being cancerous, and doctors often recommend removing the gallbladder when larger polyps are found.
• Typhoid: Individuals with a chronic salmonella infection, which is the bacterium that causes typhoid, may be at increased risk for gallbladder cancer, but this is rare in the United States.

Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk

Gallbladder cancer is sometimes found when the gallbladder is removed for other reasons.