Management of Gallbladder Cancer

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive disease. The presentation is non-specific and hence it is detected late or as a surprise following cholecystectomy. Abdominal ultrasonography (USG) performed for suspected symptomatic gallstone disease is often the initial investigation to detect GBC following which more specific test such as contrast enhanced computed tomography (CT) helps is staging the disease. Surgery is the only option with curative intent however the therapeutic option has to be individualized based on the stage at presentation, absence of disseminated disease and the performance status of the patient. GBC behaves likes systemic disease and the overall survival is poor despite aggressive surgical resection, hence there is an emergence of multi-modality approach for the management of GBC in order to reduce systemic or local failure and increase survival.