| Sub-title | |
| Authors | J Deguara C M Borg G Laferla |
| Abstract | Background: Incidental gallbladder carcinoma is defined as carcinoma of the gallbladder first diagnosed at histological examination of the resected gallbladder. Gallbladder carcinoma is the most common cancer of the biliary tract worldwide. However, it is a rare neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Incidental gallbladder carcinoma is found in 0.35% to 2% of patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Objectives: To establish the incidence of unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma in the Maltese islands and to identify any common characteristics amongst these patients. Patients and methods: We present a series of 2577 cholecystectomies carried out at St.Lukes Hospital and Gozo General Hospital between May 1993 and May 2003. The patients were identified from the pathology database and from the national cancer registry. Results: In this series, there were 27 histological diagnosis of incidental gallbladder carcinoma. The M:F was 1:1.7 and the mean age at diagnosis was 71.0 years (range 54 - 89 years). Most patients had co-existing gallstones. Eighteen patients from this series died. Their mean survival time after diagnosis was 9.1 months (range 0 48 months). Conclusions: The incidence of unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma in our series is 1.0%. A high index of suspicion is required in the preoperative management of elderly patients with gallstones, deranged liver-function tests and an irregular walled gallbladder on ultrasound. |
Published in: | |
| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | 15 Issue 1-2/suppl. 2003 |
| Pages | - |
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| Key words | gallbladder carcinoma, incidental, cholecystectomy |