Pathogenesis (disease development)
Gallbladder carcinoma develops on the floor of the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence.
Etiology (Causes)
Biographic causes
- Anatomic variants – pancreaticobiliary malunions (PBM; congenital malformations in which the pancreatic/pancreaticobiliary and biliary ducts anatomically join outside the duodenal wall/duodenum).
- Gender – males to females is 1: 2-3. [due tomore frequent occurrence of gallstones in females].
Behavioral causes
- Nutrition
- Sweet drinks: ≥ 400 ml of soda – 2-fold risk (age- and sex-adjusted).
- Sugar consumption – versus the quartile with the lowest intake (mean 20.2 g day), risk was 2.0-, 2.2-, and 2.6-fold increased in quartiles 2 (31.9 g/d), 3 (42.6 g/d), and 4 (67.2 g/d), respectively
- Stimulant consumption
- Alcohol (woman: > 20 g/day; man > 30 g/day).
- Overweight (BMI ≥ 25; obesity) (+ 30%).
Disease-related causes
Liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts-pancreas (pancreas) (K70-K77; K80-K87).
- Cholelithiasis (gallstone disease) – gallstones are also found in approximately 75-90% of all patients with gallbladder carcinoma
- Chronic cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation).
Environmental pollution – intoxications (poisonings).
- Aflatoxin-contaminated food; aji rojo, a pepper made from red chili peppers that is often contaminated with molds.
