Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder: a review of 328 cases

A ten-year retrospective study of 328 histologically proven cases of primary carcinoma of the gallbladder between 1967 and 1976, with a two-year minimum follow-up was undertaken. The overall incidence was 2.9% of all cancer cases and 31.8% of all malignant tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. Male to female ratio was 1:2.64. The disease occurred on the average at a younger age in females (43 years) than in males (50 years). Pain and lump in the right upper abdomen were the commonest clinical features. Laboratory and radiological investigations most often confirmed the diagnosis of advanced disease. The majority (80.8%) were adenocarcinomas. In all the 42 cholecystectomized patients association of gallstones was noted, but as in the majority of cases laparotomy biopsy alone was done, no mention of gallstones was recorded. Five-year survival rate of only 1.8% suggests extensive use of prophylactic cholecystectomy.