Gallbladder Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment - Healthorganise

Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

What is gall bladder Anatomy and Functions 

The gall bladder is a small pear-shaped organ located on the right side of the abdomen, below the liver, a little behind the ribs. It is usually 3-4 inches long and one inch wide. The main function of the gall bladder is to store digestive fluids, called bile. Bile is formed in the liver. During the digestive process, when food enters the first part of the small intestine, the gall bladder shrinks and bile comes out of it, which helps in the digestive process by going to the small intestine. The gall bladder is a useful organ but it is not an essential organ. Without it we can survive. Individuals whose gall bladder is surgically removed can also lead a normal life later.


Gall bladder cancer (GBC) occurs in the tissues of the gall bladder. 

Epidemiology


  • There are estimated to be around 1,78,101 cases of gall bladder cancer globally in the year 2015. bsp; 

  • Some features of GBC such as gender, ethnic and geographical trends reflect the influence of its genetic and environmental factors. 

  • The number of women is double that of men with gall bladder cancer. 

  • GBC is the most prominent of the gastrointestinal cancers in high prevalence areas, especially among women. 

  • According to Globocaine 2012 data, the disease is uncommon in African regions, (0.7 / 1,00,000) and higher in eastern regions (3.3 / 1,00,000). 

  • The incidence rate of this cancer is low in developed countries. 

  • The incidence rate of GBC in Chile is highest among women and men. 


Risk factor

The exact cause of gall bladder cancer is not known. But there are several risk factors that increase gall bladder cancer.

Age - Gall bladder cancer is found more in elderly people. GBC is seen more in India after the age of 45. Its maximum cases are seen after the age of 65 years.

Gender- Gall bladder cancer is more common in women. More than half of the total cases of gall bladder cancer in India are seen in women.

Ethnicity- The risk of developing gall bladder cancer is different in different geographical regions and ethnic groups. Gall bladder cancer is more common in countries of India, Pakistan, Eastern Europe, South America and East Asia and is lowest in Africa globally. The risk of developing gall bladder cancer in India is highest in the North and North Eastern regions, while it is lowest in South Indians.

Gallstones and chronic gall bladder inflammation - gallstones are the most common risk factor for gall bladder cancer. There is an important relationship between gallstones and gall bladder cancer, but there is no direct evidence for this. Gall bladder is mostly made up of cholesterol and other substances found in bile. It produces inflammation in the gall bladder. Only 1% of gallstones patients have gall bladder cancer. Long-term inflammation of the gallbladder caused by stones causes calcium deposits in the gallbladder wall (porcelain gall bladder) that increase the risk of gall bladder cancer. Approximately 25% of gall bladder cancers (12% to 61%) have been seen to correlate with the condition. According to a study done in North India, gall bladder cancer is higher in women (5.59%) than in men (1.99%). [16] Family history of gall bladder doubles the risk of gall bladder cancer. However, most patients do not have cancer due to gall bladder or gallstones.

Genetic factors

(a) Abnormalities in the pancreas and bile ducts - Some congenital abnormalities of the pancreas and bile ducts increase the risk of gall bladder cancer.

(b) Coli docal cyst (follicle) - Genetic coli docal vesicles are bile-filled sacs, which are connected to the bile-vessel. The walls of the coli docal follicle often have pre-cancerous changes that increase the risk of gall bladder cancer.

Gall bladder polyps- Gall bladder polyps develops on the inner surface of gallbladder wall but it is not cancerous. The development of polyps can be formed due to cholesterol deposition or inflammation in the gall bladder.

Gall bladder polyps are found in about 5% of adults. The risk of cancer depends on the size of the polyp. The larger the size of polyps, the greater the risk of cancer. Polyps larger than one centimeter are more likely to have cancer.

Family History - If the family history of GBC is in the first level relative of the family then the risk of gall bladder cancer in the person increases almost five times. Mutations in genes (BRCA2) that increase the risk of uterine and breast cancer also increase the risk of gall bladder and bile cancers.

Some types of the apoB gene have been shown to have an increased risk of gall bladder cancer, and this relationship is not dependent on the presence of gallstones.

Lifestyle Factors -

(a) Obesity- Excess obesity increases the risk of various cancers including gall bladder cancer. Obesity is directly related to gall bladder cancer. Obesity related diseases include uterine cancer in women and liver cancer in men and gall bladder cancer in second place. Obesity is a risk factor for gallstones that has a direct relationship with gall bladder cancer. It is estimated that one in ten men and one in five women have gall bladder cancer directly related to obesity.

(b) Infection - Chronic infection of the typhoid bacterium Salmonella causes inflammation in the gall bladder, which can increase the risk of gall bladder cancer in people. About 6% of Salmonella typified carriers have been shown to develop GBC, and this relationship may increase the risk of GBC by up to 12 times. According to some studies Helicobacter pylori also increases the risk of gall bladder cancer.

(c) Diet - Excess of protein and fat in the diet and low amount of vegetables, fruits and fiber is a risk factor for GBC. Some studies conducted in India indicate a relationship between diet and gall bladder cancer but scientific evidence at the population level is not sufficient.

Chemicals - Certain chemical compounds such as nitrosominas (found in cigarettes and some industrial products) increase the risk of GBC.

A cluster analysis conducted on the endemic population of some villages in India (District-Vaishali, Bihar, India) has shown a strong association of this cancer with heavy metal pollution in drinking water. Studies show that smokers employed in the metal or rubber industry are more likely to develop gall bladder cancer.

If you have one or more risk factors, it is not certain that you will develop gall bladder cancer.


Prevention

There is no sure way to prevent gall bladder cancer. We cannot modify certain risk factors such as age, gender, race, ethnicity and congenital abnormalities. But we can take precautions to reduce the risk. Obesity is an important risk factor. That is why it is advised to always maintain the right weight and lead an active life.

Eat whole grains, two and a half cups of fruits and vegetables for refined grains, and consume limited amounts of processed food and red meat. A healthy diet reduces the risk of many cancers, including GBC.

If gallstones are causing any problem, then the doctor should be consulted and if necessary, the gall bladder should be removed by the surgeon.

Gallbladder Cancer Stages

Screening to detect cancer stages: This is important because the treatment of gallbladder cancer and after that the patient will benefit from it depends on the stage of the disease.

1) Exploratory Surgery: In this, doctors see the spread of disease inside the body. This is called laparoscopy. In this, the doctor makes a small cut on the stomach and a laparoscopy is inserted from it.

2) Test of bile ducts: By putting dye in these ducts, obstruction is seen in the ducts with the help of X-ray because the enlarged sac from cancer puts pressure on these ducts. The names of these tests are:

a) Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
b) Magnetic resonance cholangiography
c) Percutaneous trans -hepatic cholangiography
d) C. T. Scan - Abdominal and Chest
e) Ultra Sound, M.D. R. I-liver
f) Pet scan - positron emission tomography

Stages of gallbladder cancer:

Stage 1: Cancer extends to the inner lining of the gallbladder.
Stage 2: The cancer spreads to the outer wall of the gallbladder or sometimes even outside it.
Stage 3: Cancer spreads to nearby organs such as liver, intestines and sometimes to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 4: This is the last stage cancer when it has spread to many organs of the body and lymph nodes which are away from the gallbladder.

Treatment :

The treatment of gallbladder cancer depends on the stage it is in, the level of physical health of the patient and how the patient wants treatment.

Early stage: If the cancer is in the early stage then it is treated by operation and it is removed but when this cancer increases then it is treated by non-surgical methods like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Treatment of early stage cancer:

a) Removal of gallbladder by operation
b) If the cancer slightly boils the liver and bile duct (bile plate ducts), then in that case the part of the liver and bile duct is also removed along with the gallbladder.

After the operation, the doctor decides to give chemotherapy and radiotherapy according to the level and physical condition of the patient.

Treatment of late stage (enlarged or spread) cancer: When the cancer usually spreads, it is not possible to treat it by operation. In such a situation, he is given only radiotherapy, chemotherapy or combined with what is called combination therapy, so that the patient's suffering can work. Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy: High-power beams such as X-rays kill cancer cells.

Late stage cancer can also cause obstruction in the bile ducts. For this, the operation is corrected by performing a metal stunt or by biliary bypass (removal of the bile duct around the blockage).

Symptoms Of Gallbladder Cancer

In the early stages of gall bladder cancer, often no symptoms are seen, but in later stages many symptoms emerge. By the time the doctor diagnoses gall bladder cancer, the GBC has reached an advanced stage, and treatment options are limited.
Cases of gall bladder cancer are caught in the early stages when the patient comes to the doctor for any other reason. Apart from gall bladder cancer, some other diseases can also cause symptoms like gall bladder cancer. That is why it is important that you get your examination done and consult a doctor.

Common symptoms of gall bladder cancer:

Abdominal pain: Most people have pain in the upper right part of the stomach in gall bladder cancer. If gallstones or cancer is blocking the bile duct, severe pain may occur.

Nausea or vomiting:

Jaundice: Jaundice occurs in 50% of people with gall bladder cancer.
In jaundice, the white part of the skin and eyes become yellow. Jaundice is caused by the accumulation of bilirubin (a chemical that gives yellow color to bile) in the blood. Bile cannot flow from the liver into the intestines. Because of this, bilirubin accumulates in the blood and tissues. It can cause symptoms such as itching, yellow urine or light colored stool. Having jaundice does not mean that you have gall bladder cancer. Another common cause of jaundice is a virus infection in the liver (hepatitis). But if jaundice is caused by GBC, it indicates an advanced stage of cancer.

Abdominal knot: If the development of cancer blocks the bile ducts, the gallbladder becomes larger than its normal size. It can emerge as a knot in the right side of the abdomen.

Other symptoms: Among the less common symptoms of gall bladder cancer are loss of appetite, fever, weight gain, etc.

Gall bladder cancer is not common in all parts of India. Signs and symptoms similar to gall bladder cancer can also be caused by any other reason. For example, the same symptoms are found in gallstones. Nevertheless, it is important that if you do not have any of the symptoms, then consult the doctor without delay and treat if needed.

The diagnosis

History: In gallbladder cancer (GBC), signs and symptoms are usually not seen in the early stages. But in the later stage, the symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, jaundice, abdominal knot, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal bloating, fever etc. may be present in the patients.
Physical examination: Physical examination mostly focuses on the abdomen knot, pain and fluid deposition. Eyes are examined to detect jaundice. Sometimes gallbladder cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, these enlarged nodes can be felt under the skin.

Blood tests: No biochemical tests are available for early diagnosis.

Hemogram:

Liver function test: Increased alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin levels are often found with more advanced disease.

Imaging test: G. B. C. shows structural changes in the gall bladder. This may include enlarged flesh within the gallbladder in 40–65% of cases, thickening of the focal or dilated parietal in 20–30%, and polyps in the lumen in 15–25%.

Abdominal ultrasound: This is an early study to find out the cause of pain in the upper abdomen. Ultrasound also detects metastatic disease in the liver. The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in gall bladder cancer is more than 80%.

CECT (CECT) / MRI: The main advantage of a CT scan is that it detects the intercalation of tumors in the surrounding organs, vessels and lymph nodes of the gall bladder and transfer of the tumor to distant organs. The composition of gall bladder cancer appears to be similar in MRI and CT scans.

These tests are not suitable for the detection of frozen cancer in the MRI peritoneum. Other tests such as M.R. CP (MRCP) and MR. a. (MRA) has excellent clinical validity for detecting spread of cancer to the liver vessel, blood vessels, liver and lymph nodes. M. R CP (MRCP) is performed exclusively in patients suffering from jaundice.

E.R. CP (ERCP): In this process X-rays of those tubes are taken; Which carries the bile from the liver to the gallbladder and from the gallbladder to the small intestine. In this process, a thin light tube is passed into the first part of the small intestine by the mouth, the esophagus and the stomach. A small tube is then passed through the catheter into the bile ducts and an x-ray is taken. Sometimes, due to cancer of the gallbladder, these tubes narrow and obstruct the flow of bile, causing jaundice. By this process, samples of the tissues can also be taken for testing.

Biovesi (fragment check): This procedure is usually performed under the guidance of ultrasound.

FNAB / FNAC :: In this test, cells are sampled by a very thin needle with a syringe. In this, the patient is not sedated. This test can also be performed under ultrasound inspection, which increases its accuracy.

Core needle biopsy: In this process, cancer is confirmed by taking a cylindrical piece of tissue by a thick hollow needle. FNA in core biopsy More than C is received for testing. If the surgeon is planning to remove the tumor from the gallbladder, it is not always necessary to have a biopsy.

Tests done in jaundice patients:

1. Coagulation Profile
2. MRCP (MRCP)
3. ERCP (ERCP) or P.T.C. (PTC)
4. Informed consent form for extended colistectomy

Optional check:

positron Emission Tomography P.E.T. (PET) scan
Tumor Marker: Serum CA. 19–9, C.E.A. The diagnosis of gall bladder cancer is not very specific. But their increased amount can be helpful in diagnosis.

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