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