Gallbladder Cancer Treatment and Survival in Finland – A Population-based Study

Abstract

Purpose: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare malignancy in Western countries. This study aimed to explore the incidence, treatment, and survival of patients with GBC in Southern Finland. Methods: Patients with GBC treated within Southern Finland Regional Cancer Center (2.2 million inhabitants) were gathered from the Finnish Cancer Register (FCR). Only patients with radiologically or histologically defined primary GBC during 2006-2017 were included. Results: This cohort included 270 patients with GBC. Twenty-one patients with an autopsy finding only and three patients with no available patient data were excluded. The incidence was 1.32/100,000 persons, and it decreased 6.8 cases per million person-years during the study period. Incidentally, after cholecystectomy GBC was diagnosed in 104 (38.5%) patients. Rest were diagnosed with symptoms and proceeded to direct resection (n=15; 5.6%), oncologic treatment (n=60; 22.2%) or best supportive care (n=91; 33.7%). The rate for curative-intent resection was 19% (n=51) with 96% R0-resection rate. For all patients and for those who undergone curative-intent resection, the median overall survival was 7.1 and 67.7 months, and 5-year survival was 11.6% and 56.8%, respectively. No improvement in survival during the study period was detected. Conclusion: GBC incidence in Southern Finland is low and slightly decreasing. However, survival remains low and has not improved over time. Figure: Crude incidence rate and number of patients with GBC in three periods per 100,000 person-years at FICAN south area during 2006-2017