Gallbladder carcinoma: experience of 116 cases.
BACKGROUND
Aggressive surgical treatment is now being advocated even for advanced carcinoma gall bladder (GBC). We reviewed our data of GBC over the last 5 years to analyse patient and survival characteristics in our patients.


METHODS
Case records of all cases of GBC admitted to surgical wards in our hospital between 1994 to 1998 were reviewed for details such as age, sex, religion, symptoms, signs, investigations, treatment and survival. World literature was reviewed by using Medline search of the subject.


RESULTS
A total of 116 patients with confirmed GBC were admitted during these five years. Their mean age was 54 +/- 11 years. Females greatly outnumbered males. The commonest symptom was abdominal pain (95%) followed by GB mass (78%). Associated gallstones were present in 67% cases. Adenocarcinoma was the commonest variety (79%). CT scan and USG were helpful in 78% and 89% cases respectively. Maximum patients (67%) presented with Nevins' stage V and most of these were treated with supportive therapy only.


CONCLUSIONS
Our patients were at least a decade younger than patients in other series and presented at an advanced stage. Radiological investigations (USG and CT scan) played a vital role in diagnosing or suspecting the disease. Curative resections were performed in few cases. Our own results, though limited favour an aggressive surgical approach. Based on our observations we have recommended certain cancer preventive steps and future treatment strategies.
Kumar
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S
Department of Surgery, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Shahdara, Delhi.
Jain
A
A
Jain
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D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome