Gallbladder carcinoma in Jordan

Despite advances in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, the prognosis of gallbladder carcinoma is still poor. The purpose of this study is to look for peculiarities of primary gallbladder carcinoma in Jordan regarding its incidence, clinical and pathological aspects.

A retrospective study over a period of 19 years comprising 66 patients was reviewed; only patients treated primarily in our hospital were included. There were 40 females and 26 males (ratio of 3:2).

The main presenting symptom was abdominal pain in 54 patients (82%); correct preoperative diagnosis was made in only 20% of cases. Cholecystectomy alone was the most commonly performed operation (32 cases), cholecystectomy in combination with biliary bypass and/or hepatic resection (16 cases), biopsy of the gallbladder was performed in 12 cases and bypass with T-tube drainage in 6 cases. Postoperative morbidity and mortality were encountered in 48% and 18% respectively.

The incidence and clinicopathological aspects of gallbladder cancer in Jordan seem to resemble that in the west, albeit with a lower age incidence. Diagnosis remains difficult and the outcome is still poor in the majority of cases.