| Clinical Characteristics of Early-Stage Gallbladder Cancer |
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Bonggyu Seong, Ju Yeun Song, Sun Youn Bae, Kwang Hyuck Lee, Jong Kyun Lee, Jong Chul Rhee, Kyu Taek Lee |
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Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea |
| 조기 담낭암 진단을 위한 임상 특징 연구 |
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성봉규, 송주연, 배선윤, 이광혁, 이종균, 이종철, 이규택 |
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성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 내과 |
Correspondence:
Kyu Taek Lee, Tel: +82-2-3410-3406, Fax: +82-2-3410-6983, Email: happymap@skku.edu
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Received: 4 March 2014 • Revised: 30 March 2014 • Accepted: 23 May 2014 |
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| This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Abstract |
Background/Aims
Early detection of gallbladder (GB) cancer is essential for better survival rates. Most cases of GB cancer are diagnosed incidentally via pathology of the cholecystectomy specimen. Data on the clinical characteristics of early GB cancer are lacking. The aim of the current study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of early GB cancer to aid earlier diagnosis.
Methods
Sixty-four patients who were diagnosed with early GB cancer after surgical resection at the Samsung Medical Center were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristics, preoperative diagnoses, preoperative tumor size, laboratory findings including carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels, imaging features, and survival rate were investigated.
Results
Clinical symptoms and serum tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 levels were not helpful indicators of early GB cancer. Radiologic modalities showed abnormal findings in every case of early GB cancer; a polypoid mass was the most common feature. Less common features included GB wall thickening, cholecystitis, and GB stones. The clinical outcome of early GB cancer was excellent.
Conclusions
Screening with imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography (US) is helpful in detecting early GB cancer. Even in the presence of GB wall thickening, cholecystitis, or GB stones on the CT or US, any abnormal findings should prompt careful examination and intensive follow up, considering the possibility of occult gallbladder cancer. |
| Key Words:
Gallbladder neoplasm; Screening; Ultrasonography, Multidetector computed tomography |
| 주제어:
조기 담낭암; 선별 검사; 영상 |
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