The incidence and epidemiology of gallbladder cancer in Qatar

Abstract

Objective: To study the incidence and epidemiology of Gallbladder cancer in Qatar. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of the cases of gallbladder cancer in Hamad General Hospital in Qatar from 2009 to 2016. Results: 37 patients presented with gallbladder cancer in the period of the study, 10 females (27%) and 27 males (73%). 14 patients (37.8%) were diagnosed incidentally after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 16 (43.2%) were diagnosed pathologically, and 4 patients were diagnosed radiologically. The mean age at the time of diagnosis is 53 years (31–78). 70% of disease occurred in patients less than 60 years old when compared to other age groups. Metastatic disease was discovered in 25 patients (67.6%) versus no metastasis in 12 patients (32.4%). The most common sites for metastasis were the liver (64%), peritoneum (36%), and lymph nods (36%). Curative resection was done in 9 patients (8-Central resection, 1-Extended right hepatectomy). Histopathology showed adenocarcinoma in 33 patients (89.1%), neuroendocrine tumor in 3 patients (8.1%) and high-grade dysplasia in 1 patient (2.7%). 33 patients have regular follow up (up to 7 years), with 26 still alive. 4 patients died during follow up with survival after diagnosis from 1 month to 2 years. Conclusion: In Qatar, due to the unique demographics, gallbladder cancer is more common in males and in younger age groups. Most of the patients present late with metastasis, but curative resection is associated with long-term survival.