[Cancer of the gallbladder]

From 1976 to 1987, 1,537 operations were carried out for cholecystitis at the Ramensk District Hospital; carcinoma of the gallbladder was found in 27 patients, one case with carcinoma of the gallbladder was recognized during laparoscopy and another case during autopsy. Twenty-five patients were over 60 years of age. Concrements were discovered in 16 patients. The diagnosis of carcinoma of the gallbladder cannot be established sometimes, even during an operation. For instance, the authors were able to recognize it in 10 cases only after histological examination. Radical cholecystectomy could be carried out only in 6 of 27 patients. Three of them died having survived 360 days, on average, after the operation. Two patients were alive for more than 4 years, one patient for over 7 years. The average survival of 10 patients after laparotomy and biopsy was 46.5 days. The survival of 11 patients treated by palliative operations was 56 days on average.