Gallbladder cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the gallbladder.
Because the gallbladder sits right beneath the liver, tumors that begin in the gallbladder often spread into the liver. Half of all liver and biliary passage tumors are tumors of the gallbladder.
Many people who have gallbladder cancer have nonspecific symptoms.
Often, gallbladder cancers are discovered during surgery for removal of gallstones or a dysfunctional gallbladder.
Surgeons may see the cancer during gallbladder surgery, or pathologists may detect the cancer when they review the tissue that was removed during surgery.
Many people who have gallbladder cancers have nonspecific symptoms. Some have symptoms that are similar to those of advanced primary liver cancer, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Other symptoms, sometimes associated with gallbladder tumors include:
In addition to a physical exam, your doctor may order imaging and blood tests to evaluate:
Blood tests will:
If you will be treated by chemotherapy, you may also need to have:
The UPMC Liver Cancer Center's multidisciplinary team offers several treatment options for people with gallbladder cancer.
Depending on the size and location of your tumor, and the general health of your liver, you may be a candidate for surgical removal of the tumor(s).
If the tumor is located in one part of the liver, it can be surgically removed, or resected.
Liver resection, either minimally invasive (laparoscopic) liver surgery or traditional (open) liver surgery, offers the best chance for cure or long-term s urvival.
UPMC’s liver surgeons are among the most experienced in the United States at minimally invasive liver surgery, which is performed through three or four sma ll incisions in the abdomen.
We perform this technique, whenever possible, to reduce:
If your tumor is too large to be removed by surgery, the UPMC Liver Cancer Center offers innovative therapies, such as radiofrequency ablation and transarterial chemoembolization, to:
To schedule an appointment, or for more information, call the UPMC Liver Cancer Center, toll-free, at 1-855-745-4837.
