| Cancer of the gall bladder is a very uncommon | | | | Less common subtypes comprise: squamous cell, |
| condition. Gall bladder cancer, also called carcinoma | | | | signet ring cell, and adenosquamous |
| of the gall bladder. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped | | | | (adenoacanthoma). Gallbladder cancer symptoms |
| limb underneath the liver that collects and stores | | | | consist of jaundice and fever. Most gall bladder |
| bile (a fluid made by the liver to digest fat). | | | | cancers are only revealed when they have |
| Gallbladder cancer starts in the intimate layer of | | | | reached fairly a late stage. They can reason a |
| tissue and spreads through the outer layers as it | | | | diversity of symptoms, including sickness and high |
| cultivates. Gall bladder cancer tends to spread to | | | | temperatures, and sudden pain (which may come |
| nearby organs and tissues such as the liver or | | | | and go) in the upper right-hand side of the |
| small intestine. It also extends through the lymph | | | | abdomen. The abdomen is the cavity containing |
| system to lymph nodes in the region of the liver | | | | several organs including the stomach, gall bladder |
| (porta hepatis). Gallbladder cancer is most | | | | and liver. Treatment may also depend on the age |
| frequently seen in older patients, with a median | | | | and general health of the patient and whether the |
| age at diagnosis of 62-66 years. | | | | cancer is causing symptoms. |
| It arises more often in women's. Gallbladder | | | | Surgery is a common treatment for cancer of |
| cancer is the fifth most common GI cancer in the | | | | the gallbladder if it has not broadened to |
| United States. Gall bladder cancer is very rare | | | | surrounding tissues. Laparoscopy is frequently |
| affecting only 7,100 people in the United States | | | | used to eliminate the gallbladder as a treatment |
| per year. Gallbladder cancer infrequently produces | | | | for gallstones or chronic irritation of the gallbladder. |
| premature signs and symptoms. When symptoms | | | | This operation is called a laparoscopic |
| do seen, they often look like those of other, | | | | cholecystectomy. Chemotherapy employs drugs |
| more common, gallbladder problems such as | | | | to destroy cancer cells. Radiation therapy utilizes |
| gallstones or infection. The bulk of these cancers | | | | high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and minimize |
| are "adenocarcinomas", with subtypes such as | | | | tumors. Radiation for gallbladder cancer generally |
| papillary, nodular, and tubular, depending on the | | | | comes from a machine outside the body |
| appearance of the tumor cells under the | | | | (external beam radiation therapy). Radiation may |
| microscope. | | | | be used alone or in addition to surgery. |