Gallbladder cancer in India: A dismal picture

Abstract

The majority of patients with GBC in India have advanced unresectable disease. Detection of GBC at an early stage is incidental and rare but is associated with long-term survival. Radical surgery, when feasible, is the only option for achieving long-term survival.

Carcinoma of gallbladder: Clinical evaluation and survival rate at a tertiary care center in Rajasthan

“…The constellation of clinical features and etiological profile of GBC patients was similar to that reported earlier from India and other countries [2,3]. The median survival of GBC patients was dismal in the present study as majority of them presented in advanced stage, similar to previous studies from different parts of India [2,4].…”

Incidental Gall Bladder Carcinoma in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Report of 6 Cases and a Review of the Literature

“…Albores-Saavedra and co-workers first described the entity junction of the pancreaticobiliary ducts) and primary sclerosing cholangitis. It has been presumed that a longstanding chronic inflammation which is caused by cholelithiasis plays a role in the tumour progression and that carcinogenesis and gallstones are seen in 54-97% of the patients of GBC [11]. However, while most of the patients of GBC will have a history of cholelithiasis, only 0.3-3% of the patients with gallstones develop GBC.…”

Asymptomatic Gallstones (AsGS) – To Treat or Not to?

“…Despite a strong association, proof of a causal relationship between presence of GS and occurrence of gallbladder cancer (GBC) is lacking, and thus one may not club GBC with other complications of GS, but there is no denying the fact that in areas where incidence of GBC is high, including northern India, this possibility does hang like the proverbial sword of Damocles on the treating surgeon's mind. The fact remains that once diagnosed, GBC is a disease with dismal prognosis with cures being rare [3]. The feeling of dread that patients usually feel (and surgeons often second) whenever a possibility of GBC in future is even mentioned in a patient with AsGs, often strongly influences the choice of treatment.…”