ULTRASONOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS OF GALL BLADDER CANCER

Abstract

Gall bladder cancer, despite being the most common malignant tumor of the biliary tract, is quite uncommon. The prognosis is most of the times poor because by the time it is detected it has already metastasised to distant organs. Signs and symptoms are mostly vague but may include abdominal pain, bloating, fever, jaundice, nausea and unintentional weight loss. Histologically, most of the gall bladder cancers are adenocarcinomas.

We present to you a case study of a 60 year old woman who presented with right upper quadrant dull pain, anorexia and jaundice and thereon got detected with gall bladder cancer on ultrasonography with the findings of intraluminal calculus, multiple foci of irregular gall bladder thickening, porta hepatis lympadenopathy, ascites and liver and common bile duct metastasis.

The objective of this case study is to discuss the ultrasonographic picture of gall bladder cancer, its prognosis, risk factors, histology and current treatment which can create more awareness and henceforth help in the improvement of overall prognosis of this disease.