Clinicopathological Study of Gall Bladder Cancer with special Reference to Gall Stones: 12 years Experience in Tertiary Care Center in Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Gall bladder cancer is most common cancer of the biliary tree and one of thehighly malignant tumors with poor prognosis. Although its incidence is low in west, it is common
in our part of the world. There are very few studies regarding gall bladder cancer in Nepal. Theincidence of gallstones in patients with gall bladder cancer is high. The aim of the study was to
evaluate the clinicopathological aspect of the disease in patients with gallbladder cancer and toAsses the incidence of gallstones in patients with gall bladder cancer.
Method: This was a retrospective study carried out in GI Surgery unit of National Academy ofMedical Science, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal. All patients diagnosed as gallbladder carcinomas
during 12 years period from 2002 to 2014 were included in this study. Their clinical characteristics,laboratory data, tumor histopathology reports were obtained and analyzed using SPSS17.
Result: Total of 47 patients who met inclusion criteria were included in the study. Male to Femalratio was 1:1.8. Age ranged from 32 to 72 years with mean age of 54. Most common presenting
symptom was Pain abdomen (93.6%) followed by weight loss (51.1%) and Jaundice (46.8%).Most common finding on examination was Icterus (42.6%) followed by palpable gall bladder
(34%) and Hepatomegaly (29.8%). Gall Stones were seen in 37 (72.3%) patients. Most commonhistopathology was Adenocarcinoma (93.6%).
Conclusion: Most of the patient with gall bladder cancer remained asymptomatic until late. Painabdomen was most common presenting symptom and icterus was most common findings. There
was strong association between gall bladder cancer and gallstones. There should be high index ofsuspicion if patient with gallstones has constant pain in right hypochondrium and has jaundice.
Key words: Gall bladder cancer, Gallstones, Nepal