Gallbaldder cancer with invasion of the liver and colon: A case report

Biliary tract cancer (BTC) accounts for approximately 3% of all malignant gastrointestinal diseases and is the most common hepatobiliary cancer after hepatocellular carcinoma with a very high mortality rate. The prognosis is poor due to the aggressive biologic behavior of the tumor, late presentation, complicated anatomic location, and advanced stage at diagnosis. Gallbladder cancer accounts for approximately half of all BTC cases and is characterized by late-stage symptoms because of its complicated anatomical position. This report presents the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian female with a four-year history of right upper quadrant abdominal pain, diagnosed with gallbladder cancer. Imaging through ultrasound and complementary MRI showed tumor invasion into the liver, omentum, and regional lymph nodes. After confirming the absence of distant metastasis and peritoneal dissemination, the patient underwent surgical resection, including a hemihepatectomy, cholecystectomy, and omentectomy. Histopathological evaluation confirmed a diagnosis of poorly differentiated cholangiocarcinoma with perineural and vascular invasion, staged as pT3NxMx according to AJCC 8th edition. Despite adjuvant chemotherapy, the patient was not able to complete the treatment and was subsequently transitioned to palliative care. She passed away after one year of postsurgery. This case highlights the challenges of diagnosing and managing gallbladder cancer at an advanced stage and underscores the need for early detection through improved screening strategies in high-risk patients. Early detection, achieved through routine screenings and early intervention, is crucial in enhancing patient outcomes. Additional advances in diagnostic imaging for biliary tract cancer are anticipated to involve AI-driven technologies, molecular imaging techniques such as PET-MRI/CT, high-resolution MRI/MRCP, and dynamic imaging techniques. These technologies provide potential for facilitating early and accurate diagnosis by assessing tumor perfusion and vascularity.