gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer is a relatively uncommon cancer, with an incidence of fewer than 2 cases per 100,000 people per year in the United States. It is less uncommon in Central and South America, central and eastern Europe, Japan and northern India; it is also common in certain ethnic groups such as Native American and Hispanic peoples. Gallbladder adenocarcinoma accounts for approximately 90% of gallbladder cancers. GLOBOCAN 2022 estimated 122,469 new cases and 89,045 deaths from gallbladder cancer in 2022. South Central Asia and Eastern Asia, particularly India and China, bear the largest absolute burdens, and some South American countries, like Bolivia, have among the highest age-standardized rates. This highlights the regional disparities in gallbladder cancer incidence and mortality. If diagnosed early enough, the cancer may be cured by removing the gallbladder, part of the liver and associated lymph nodes. However, the cancer is often only found after patients present with symptoms such as abdominal pain, jaundice and vomiting, and by then it has often spread to other organs such as the liver. Gallbladder cancer is thought to be related to the formation of gallstones, which may lead to calcification of the gallbladder, a condition known as porcelain gallbladder. Porcelain gallbladder is also rare. Some studies indicate that people with porcelain gallbladder have a high risk of developing gallbladder cancer, but other studies question this. The outlook is poor for recovery if the cancer is found after symptoms have started to occur, with a five-year survival rate of clo...