Can gallbladder cancer be detected by ultrasound?

Written by Li Hu Chen
Imaging Center
Updated on September 27, 2024
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If there is gallbladder cancer, we can detect it by conducting an ultrasound examination, checking the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen, or simply performing an upper abdominal ultrasound. This is because an ultrasound is typically the first choice for examining the hepato-biliary system. Why? Because it's the most convenient and quickest method. Other examinations such as CT scans or MRI often require a prior appointment, especially MRI, which may need booking days in advance. However, ultrasounds are usually done on the same day and the results are immediate, making it the preferred method for examining the liver and gallbladder. Moreover, ultrasound is quite sensitive for gallbladder cancer. It can reveal if the gallbladder wall is particularly thickened, either locally or extensively, which often suggests the presence of gallbladder cancer, or if there is a large mass of soft tissue in the area of the gallbladder fossa, which might also adhere to the surrounding liver, raising suspicions of gallbladder cancer. Additionally, if there are unusually large polyps, particularly those over 1cm or with a notably wide base, gallbladder cancer should also be considered.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Can people with gallbladder cancer eat lamb?

Patients with gallbladder cancer can appropriately eat mutton, as mutton is a food high in protein, which can supplement the albumin needed by the human body and better improve the patient's resistance. However, patients with gallbladder cancer may experience discomfort such as pain in the upper right abdomen and may also encounter digestive symptoms like indigestion and bloating. Therefore, it is recommended for gallbladder cancer patients to consume foods that are easy to digest, which can reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and facilitate recovery. Although mutton can be consumed, it should be eaten in small, frequent meals to prevent complications such as intestinal obstruction. Additionally, for the treatment of gallbladder cancer, surgical removal should be used as early as possible to achieve a cure, with earlier detection and treatment likely leading to a relatively better prognosis.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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How long does it take for gallstones to develop into gallbladder cancer?

Gallstones do not necessarily develop into gallbladder cancer. For patients with gallstones, they mainly experience discomfort and pain in the upper right abdomen, especially after overeating or drinking alcohol, when the symptoms suddenly appear. Gallstones do not necessarily cause gallbladder cancer. If symptoms occur, surgery should be performed at this time. Only through surgery can a cure for gallbladder cancer be achieved. It is a common malignant tumor of the gallbladder, mainly caused by repeated inflammatory stimuli or genetic factors. At this time, surgery should be performed to better improve the prognosis of the patient. Early stage gallbladder cancer can be completely removed surgically to achieve a cure.

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Written by Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
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The main manifestations of gallbladder cancer on MRI

Gallbladder cancer is more common in females and is generally believed to be associated with chronic stimulation from chronic cholecystitis and gallstones. On MRI, gallbladder cancer can be categorized into several types based on case classification and growth patterns: first, the infiltrative type; second, the nodular type; third, the mass-forming type; and fourth, the obstructive type. Regardless of the pathological type of gallbladder cancer, the tumor tissue appears as a heterogeneous low signal on T1 and a heterogeneous high signal on T2. After enhancement, the tumor shows heterogeneous enhancement. If there is invasion into the liver, the boundary with liver tissue is unclear. MRI has significant advantages in assessing invasion of adjacent organs and metastasis, and can provide great value for surgery or treatment planning.

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Written by Li Hu Chen
Imaging Center
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Gallbladder cancer B-ultrasound manifestations

Gallbladder cancer can be diagnosed using ultrasound. On ultrasound, this type of gallbladder cancer can generally be divided into three types. One type is the thick-walled gallbladder cancer, which appears as uneven thickening of the gallbladder wall, resembling thick, non-elastic leather. The second type is the mass-forming type, which is relatively easier to diagnose. It appears as a solid mass taking over the entire gallbladder, often invading the nearby liver, and the normal shape of the gallbladder has disappeared. The third type is the intraluminal type, where on ultrasound, you can see the tumor attached to the gallbladder wall, which is relatively wider and larger.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Can gallbladder cancer be detected by cancer embryonic antigen test?

The use of cancer embryo antigen in patients with gallbladder cancer has certain reference value, but it is not absolute. Patients with gallbladder cancer typically show a significant increase in embryonic antigen. Gallbladder cancer is difficult to diagnose early as it generally does not show specific symptoms. Some patients may experience mild discomfort in the upper right abdomen, but this is often overlooked or misdiagnosed as other diseases, such as chronic gastritis. Therefore, once diagnosed with gallbladder cancer, it is usually already at a middle to late stage. Although the cancer embryo antigen in tumor marker tests of gallbladder cancer patients can be elevated, this is not absolute. Therefore, when discomfort in the upper right abdomen occurs, further comprehensive examinations like color ultrasound, CT, and other related tests are necessary to differentiate it.