HomeHealth TopicsDigestive SystemGallbladder Cancer
Back to Digestive System
Gallbladder Cancer
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Digestive System

Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder cancer is a rare condition that is often difficult to diagnose in its early stages and typically requires surgical or medical intervention.

Overview

Your gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ under your liver that stores bile, a fluid made by your liver to digest fat. As your stomach and intestines digest food, your gallbladder releases bile through the common bile duct, which connects your gallbladder and liver to your small intestine.

Risk Factors & Diagnosis

Cancer of the gallbladder is rare and is more common in women and Native Americans. It is hard to diagnose in its early stages; sometimes it is discovered only when the gallbladder is removed for another reason. Notably, people with gallstones rarely have gallbladder cancer.

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
  • Pain above the stomach
  • Fever
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Bloating
  • Lumps in the abdomen

Treatment

Because it is often found late, it can be hard to treat. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, having gallstones does not automatically mean you are at high risk for gallbladder cancer. While gallstones are a risk factor, the vast majority of people with gallstones never develop cancer. The risk is primarily elevated in specific cases, such as when a gallstone is very large (over 3 centimeters), has been present for many years, or is accompanied by a porcelain gallbladder (calcification of the gallbladder wall). Most gallstones are managed with observation or cholecystectomy without any progression to malignancy.
If cancer is incidentally found in the gallbladder after a standard cholecystectomy, the treatment plan depends on the stage and depth of invasion. For early-stage cancer confined to the gallbladder wall, a re-exploration surgery to remove the liver bed, lymph nodes, and surrounding tissues may be recommended. For more advanced stages, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is often used to control the disease and manage symptoms, as complete surgical removal may not be possible.
While both can cause jaundice and abdominal pain, gallbladder cancer often presents with pain specifically in the upper right quadrant that may radiate to the back or shoulder, and it is frequently associated with a history of gallstones. Liver cancer, on the other hand, may present with a palpable mass, ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen), and signs of liver dysfunction such as easy bruising or confusion. Diagnosis for gallbladder cancer often involves imaging like CT or MRI to visualize the gallbladder and bile ducts, whereas liver cancer diagnosis heavily relies on liver function tests and specific tumor markers like AFP.
Gallbladder cancer is difficult to detect early because the gallbladder is a small organ located deep within the abdomen, and early-stage tumors often do not cause distinct symptoms. When symptoms do appear, such as jaundice, pain, or fever, they are frequently mistaken for more common conditions like gallstone attacks, cholecystitis, or hepatitis. Additionally, the cancer can spread to the liver or lymph nodes before it becomes large enough to be felt or seen on standard imaging, leading to a late diagnosis in many cases.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

kontakt@hittavard.se

Ⓒ 2024. Alla rättigheter förbehålls av juxt ab

Sök
Om ossVillkor och policyVanliga frågorKontakta oss