Gallbladder cancer ultrasonographic appearance

Written by Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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The appearance of gallbladder cancer on color ultrasound depends on the morphology of the cancer, which is mainly divided into five types: small nodular, thick-wall, fragmented, calculous, and mixed type. The small nodular type mainly features a polypoid elevation with a wide base, about 1-1.2 cm in size, and has isoechoic characteristics. The fragmented type is characterized by a wider base and irregular borders, presenting as hypoechoic or isoechoic masses. The calculous type shows an enlarged gallbladder, possibly containing hypoechoic and uneven solid masses that may fill the entire gallbladder. The thick-wall type primarily involves localized or diffuse thickening of the wall. The mixed type is a combination of papillary fragmented type and thick-wall type presence.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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What foods to eat for late-stage gallbladder cancer?

Patients with advanced liver cancer will experience metastasis to other parts of the body, presenting corresponding clinical symptoms that affect the quality of life. Furthermore, patients with advanced liver cancer often exhibit significant weight loss and cachexia, commonly accompanied by hypoalbuminemia. Therefore, for patients with advanced gallbladder cancer, it is advisable to include a diet rich in high-protein foods, which can help replenish the proteins needed by the body, such as albumin, and improve the patient's immunity. It is beneficial to eat fresh vegetables, fruits, as well as lean meats, eggs, and fish, to address these symptoms appropriately. At the same time, for patients with advanced gallbladder cancer, it is important to avoid spicy and irritating foods, as well as foods that are difficult to digest, because these can increase the burden on the gallbladder, exacerbating the condition and impeding treatment. Hence, this should be given careful consideration.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Difference between early-stage and mid-stage gallbladder cancer

For gallbladder cancer, its staging is mainly based on the size of the tumor and whether there are metastases to other parts of the body, including lymph node metastases. In early-stage gallbladder cancer patients, the tumor is generally small and there are no metastases to other parts of the body. At this stage, patients typically do not show specific symptoms. Additionally, for patients with mid-stage gallbladder cancer, they may experience discomfort or dull pain in the upper right abdomen, and may also experience weight loss, possibly even developing cachexia. Therefore, gallbladder cancer patients can undergo surgical removal and a pathological examination can provide a better assessment of the pathological stage, leading to a better treatment plan.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Can gallbladder cancer with liver metastasis be treated?

If a gallbladder cancer patient experiences liver metastasis, aggressive treatment can be applied, but it can only be symptomatic treatment and cannot achieve a cure. Gallbladder cancer is a type of malignancy with a high degree of malignancy, prone to metastasis to other parts, and with very poor treatment outcomes. If liver metastasis occurs, the condition is severe and has reached the middle to late stages. Treatment cannot involve surgical removal at this time. Instead, active management should be employed to improve quality of life and better control the disease, though it cannot be cured. When gallbladder cancer patients experience liver metastasis, symptoms may include pain in the liver area, abnormal liver function, hypoalbuminemia, ascites, and other clinical symptoms. At this time, symptomatic treatment should be actively pursued to better maintain the patient's life and improve quality of life.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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What's causing the vomiting in gallbladder cancer?

Gallbladder cancer patients, if they experience vomiting, the causes primarily include two aspects. On one hand, vomiting may occur due to obstructive jaundice caused by gallbladder cancer. At this time, the patient may experience abdominal distension and poor digestion, which could lead to nausea and vomiting. For treatment, it is advisable to perform surgery as soon as possible to achieve therapeutic effects and prevention. On the other hand, for gallbladder cancer patients, vomiting should be taken seriously as it could be a sign of metastasis to other parts of the body, such as the gastrointestinal tract or liver. Therefore, for gallbladder cancer patients, it is important to conduct comprehensive examinations to rule out metastasis to other locations. If metastasis occurs, systemic chemotherapy may be necessary to achieve better suppressive effects.

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Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
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Is jaundice a sign of advanced gallbladder cancer?

If a patient with gallbladder cancer exhibits jaundice, it does not necessarily mean the cancer is in its late stages. As the cancer grows, it may compress the bile duct, leading to obstructive jaundice. This can result in lighter-colored stools, darker urine, and yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, and even cause itchy skin. Therefore, it is not necessarily indicative of advanced gallbladder cancer. Of course, if a patient with late-stage gallbladder cancer experiences liver metastasis, this might also manifest as yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes throughout the body. At this point, it is necessary to carry out thorough examinations, common tests including abdominal CT scans and ultrasounds, which can better assess the condition. If metastasis is present, even systemic chemotherapy might be required to achieve a better treatment outcome.