Clinical Presentation and Management of Gall Bladder Cancer – An Observational Study

Introduction: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is highly prevalent in India with an incidence rate of 1.8 per 100,000, contributing to cancer-related deaths globally. Late diagnosis, attributed to absence of reliable screening tests, results in advanced stages and poor prognosis. Symptoms vary asymptomatic to pain, jaundice and GI discomfort. Most commonly asso. Gallstones, GBC often presents late. Despite being the 19th most diagnosed cancer, it ranks 15th in India for mortality. This study aims to highlight key aspects including Clinical features, risk factors, pathogenesis, imaging characteristics &emphasizing early detection and comprehensive management approaches tailored to staging. Aim: To study clinical presentation and management modalities of gall bladder cancer. Methods: The study was conducted on 170 patients, patient data was collected on admission and diagnosis was made using clinical presentation and radiological investigation and analysed for early detection of clinical presentation of GBC and management planned and follow up was done for survival result in study period. Results: The study had the following findings- (1). The proportion of Females having GBC was 60% (102 off 170) higher than Males (40%), ratio between the male and female patients was 0.6667: 1. (2). Median incidence of gall bladder cancer in this study occurred in 6th decade (51-60 years). (3). Pain in abdomen was commonest complain present in 66% of patients followed by Jaundice 62% and vomiting in 51% of patients in our study group. (4). In our study we observed the most common stage observed were IIB and IIIA with 64(37.65%) and 60(35.29%) with personal habits, such as smoking, alcohol, and irregular bowel habits, were most commonly observed in particular stages of gallbladder cancer and CECT W/A was the main modality of investigation for diagnosis and metastasis of GBC in suspected patients. Conclusions: This study identified key demographic trends, symptomatology, and treatment patterns. Patients typically presented with pain, jaundice, and vomiting, with pain most common clinical presentation. Disease staging showed associations with age, sex, and personal habits like smoking and alcohol use. Management as Palliative care was predominant in advanced stages and older patients, correlating with higher mortality rates. Early-stage patients undergoing surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy had better survival rates, contrasting with late-stage patients receiving palliative care and chemotherapy. This highlights the importance of early diagnosis, aggressive treatment, and tailored interventions for improved outcomes in gallbladder cancer.