title: Carcinoma of the gallbladder--a possible regional predisposition in the western Cape and northern Cape.
abstract: An analysis of 19 patients with confirmed carcinoma of the gallbladder who were treated over a period of 68 months emphasised known clinical features of the disease, i.e. nonspecific symptomatology, late presentation and poor prognosis. Comparison with 883 patients undergoing surgery for benign calculous biliary tract disease during the same period identified a more advanced mean age (67.0 v. 55.3 years), larger mean maximum stone diameter (20.3 v. 11.9 mm) and a higher proportion of patients resident in the Cape interior and west coast region (57.8% v. 11.8%) as features associated with carcinoma of the gallbladder. Further investigation of the regional predisposition suggested by this study may identify new factors linked to the development of gallbladder cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch, W. Cape.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Marais
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002758:Cholangiography; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006500:Hepatic Duct, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology