Gallbladder and Bile Duct Cancer

Abstract

OverviewPrimary gallbladder and bile duct cancers are relatively rare tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Both are mainly adenocarcinomas that start as abnormal growths within the mucous lining of the gallbladder and bile ducts. Bile duct tumors, or cholangiocarcinomas, are further differentiated by their location within the liver (intrahepatic) or outside the liver (extrahepatic). Both tumor types have distinct pathophysiologies and modes of hepatocarcinogenesis. Gallbladder cancers, for example, are associated with gallstones, chronic choleycystitis, and the porcelain gallbladder. They are commonly found incidentally on cholecystectomy specimens. On the other hand, cholangiocarcinomas have frequent associations with parasitic infections and other diseases causing chronic inflammation in the bile ducts (primary sclerosing cholangitis). While both gallbladder and cholangiocarcinomas can be cured if surgically resected, unresectable or advanced tumors have a poor prognosis and usually require systemic chemotherapy.