Early symptoms and warning signs of gallbladder cancer.

Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Patients with early-stage gallbladder cancer generally do not display specific symptoms or obvious precursors. Some patients may experience digestive symptoms such as abdominal bloating, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting, but these are often overlooked. Thus, by the time gallbladder cancer is diagnosed, it is usually at an advanced stage, where the pain becomes significant and is one of the main reasons patients seek medical attention.

Additionally, some patients may experience weight loss and even develop cachexia. Gallbladder cancer is a highly malignant tumor with rapid progression and a tendency to metastasize to other parts of the body, resulting in a very poor prognosis. Therefore, once diagnosed with gallbladder cancer, it is crucial to complete relevant examinations, rule out any contraindications for surgery, and proceed with surgical removal as soon as possible.

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Written by Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
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Can gallbladder cancer be detected by ultrasound?

Gallbladder cancer can also be detected by ultrasound, which is the preferred imaging method for diagnosing hepatobiliary diseases. Ultrasound can detect space-occupying lesions in hepatobiliary diseases early on. It is sensitive enough to detect lesions as small as one centimeter, or even a few millimeters. In the case of space-occupying lesions of the gallbladder, particularly gallbladder cancer, there are no particularly obvious signals on ultrasound. Ultrasound of the gallbladder is merely used as a screening tool, not as a definitive diagnostic method. If gallbladder cancer is suspected, further investigations such as MRI or enhanced CT are generally required, but the final diagnosis still relies on pathology.

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Written by Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
57sec home-news-image

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 Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
47sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
59sec home-news-image

Early symptoms and warning signs of gallbladder cancer.

Patients with early-stage gallbladder cancer generally do not display specific symptoms or obvious precursors. Some patients may experience digestive symptoms such as abdominal bloating, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting, but these are often overlooked. Thus, by the time gallbladder cancer is diagnosed, it is usually at an advanced stage, where the pain becomes significant and is one of the main reasons patients seek medical attention. Additionally, some patients may experience weight loss and even develop cachexia. Gallbladder cancer is a highly malignant tumor with rapid progression and a tendency to metastasize to other parts of the body, resulting in a very poor prognosis. Therefore, once diagnosed with gallbladder cancer, it is crucial to complete relevant examinations, rule out any contraindications for surgery, and proceed with surgical removal as soon as possible.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Wu Cai
Hepatobiliary Surgery
57sec home-news-image

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.