Gallbladder Cancer
Half of all liver and biliary passage tumors are tumors of the gallbladder. Tumors that begin in the gallbladder often spread into the liver.
Detection
Many people who have gallbladder cancers have nonspecific symptoms. Some have symptoms that are similar to those of advanced primary liver cancer. Other symptoms sometimes associated with gallbladder tumors include abdominal cramping, intolerance of fatty foods, and pain in the right upper abdomen. New-onset jaundice often appears as a result of a gallbladder tumor. Jaundice is a yellowish coloring of the skin that results from excess bile.
Oftentimes, gallbladder cancers are discovered only as a consequence of surgery for removal of gallstones or removal of a dysfunctional gallbladder. Surgeons may see the cancer during gallbladder surgery or the cancer may be detected by a pathologist’s review of the tissue that was removed during surgery.
Evaluation
Evaluation of gallbladder cancer may involve blood tests that measure liver function as well as tests to evaluate the extent and location of the tumor. These may include computed tomography (CT) scans of the liver, chest, and pelvis to exclude or confirm the presence of tumors that have spread from another area. A bone scan is also performed to exclude or confirm the presence of cancer in the bone. Based on these tests, physicians note the size of the tumor, its location within the liver, its proximity to major hepatic blood vessels of the liver, and whether there are metastatic tumors or nodules.
For patients who will be treated by chemotherapy, an audiogram (hearing test) and a MUGA heart scan may be required.