Gallbladder cancer – only surgery is curative

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare malignancy which has a higher incidence in female than in male patients. GBC has usually a poor prognosis. METHODS: Review of literature and current therapeutic concepts. RESULTS: In the carcinogenesis of GBC chronic inflammation and dysplasia seem to be more important than adenoma. For the evaluation of the local tumor extension ultrasound and CT scan are most effective. Resection offers the only curative therapeutic option in GBC. Cholecystectomy is the adequate therapy for T1 GBC. In case of T2 tumors liver resection of the gallbladder bed with a parenchymal edge of at least 2 cm and lymphadenectomy like in T3/T4 are required. For T3 tumors the edge of resected liver parenchyma should be at least 3 cm and for T4 tumors an additional extrahepatic bile duct resection is necessary. Conservative oncological therapeutic options for GBC are discussed controversially. CONCLUSIONS: Early tumor detection and radical resection are the only parameters to cure GBC but it is just possible in a small number of patients.