Clinical Profile of Patients with Carcinoma Gall Bladder a North Indian Perspective

Abstract

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC), although rare, is the most common of biliary tract malignancy. It has been thought to be fatal disease with an extremely poor prognosis. Gallbladder cancer is often discovered incidentally after cholecystectomy performed for gall stone disease. Material & Methods: It is an retrospective observational study conducted in our surgical unit of Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, India. Case records of 106 patients, from June 2017 to December 2022 were analyzed. Results: A total of 56% cases were in more than 60 years of age group and the mean age recorded was 58 years. 54.7% cases were females and 62.3% cases had a rural background. 59.4% of the cases were from lower socio-economic strata. A body mass index of more than 30 was recorded in 72.7% cases. 62.3% patients gave history of tobacco abuse. 39.6% cases were natives of Punjab and 37.8% cases were migrants from the Gangetic belt (Uttar Pradesh and Bihar). Pain abdomen was the most common presenting symptom found in 67.9% cases. 54.7% cases presented with abdominal mass. Majority of the patients (67.9%) reported in Stage 4 of the disease. Fundus involvement was seen in 45.3% cases. 94.3% cases had associated gall stones with 64.2% cases having multiple stones. Conclusion: We studied the clinical profile of the patients with gall bladder carcinoma and found its high incidence in the fifth decade of life and its association with female sex, low socio economic status, obesity, local and Gangetic belt ethinicity, gall stones and a late stage at presesentation.