The aim of this review is to - Highlight the role of imaging in diagnosis of carcinoma gallbladder. Illustrate the spectrum of imaging findings in different morphological patterns of carcinoma gall bladder.

Carcinoma gall bladder encompasses cancer arising from gall bladder and cystic duct. It is a lethal malignant tumor with local invasion into liver at early stage. Gallbladder carcinoma is the seventh most common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract and the most common malignant neoplasm of the biliary tree1. It is more prevalent in the South America and India. The incidence of gallbladder carcinoma increases with age, with more than 90% patients aged more than 50 yrs2. It is two times higher in women than in...

Risk factors Risk factors include cholelithiasis (seen in 75% patients of Ca GB), anomalous pancreaticobiliary ductal union, chronic typhoid infection, porcelain gallbladder[Fig. 17] and exposure to carcinogenic chemicals5. Pathological features, Staging and Prognosis Most carcinomas of the gallbladder are adenocarcinomas (85 – 90%) as they occur as a consequence of malignant transformation of simple columnar epithelium which lines whole of the biliary tree and gallbladder. These can be papillary, tubular, mucinous or signet cell type. Most common location is Fundus (60%) followed by body (30%)...

Carcinoma of gallbladder is a highly aggressive tumor that is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage in majority of patients. Hence, most tumors are inoperable at the time of diagnosis. Long term survival is seen only in patients in whom the tumor is found incidentally at the time of cholecystectomy for gallstones. The radiologic findings in early stage cancers are subtle and may mimick those of inflammatory conditions. Direct invasion into liver, biliary tree, biliary obstruction, lymph nodal and hematogenous metastases are characteristic findings seen...

Dr Varun Yadav, Resident in Training, Department of Radiology, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi. Mobile: 9968944868 Email ID: [email protected]

Jemal A, Siegel R, Xu J, et al. Cancer statistics, 2010. CA Cancer J Clin. 2011;60:133-4. Kiran RP, Pokala N, Dudrick SJ. Incidence pattern and survival for gallbladder cancer over three decades – an anlysis of 10301 patients. An Surg Oncol. 2007;14:827-32. Angela D. Levy,Linda A. Murakata, andCharles A. Rohrmann, Gallbladder Carcinoma: Radiologic-Pathologic correlation. RadioGraphics200121:2,295-314. Henson DE, Albores Saavedra J, Corle D. Carcinoma of the gallbladder. Histologic types, stage of disease, grade and survival rates. Sheth S, Bedford A, Chopra S. Primary gallbladder cancer: recognition...