Biliary obstruction in gall bladder cancer is not sine qua non of inoperability

The presence of biliary obstruction in patients with gallbladder cancer (GBC) is generally viewed as an indicator of advanced disease, inoperability and poor prognosis.

Data was collected from patients with GBC with obstructive jaundice who underwent resection during the period January 2001 to October 2003. Systematic analysis of prospective data was undertaken; patients were analyzed for resectability, post-operative morbidity, mortality and disease-free survival.

During this period 14 patients with GBC with biliary obstruction underwent resection with curative intent. In these jaundiced patients, the resectability rate was 27.45% (14 of 51). In the jaundiced group the mortality was 7.14% the morbidity rate 50%, the mean disease free survival was 23.46 months (median 26 months and range of 2 to 62 months). Seven patients (50%) survived more than two years.

Biliary obstruction in gall bladder cancer is not sine qua non of inoperability and resection results in meaningful prolongation of survival.