1st order
- Cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) is sufficient only for tumor confined to the gallbladder wall without metastasis.
- Advanced stages must be carefully evaluated for resectability.
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT; to reduce tumor mass before planned surgery) may be considered.
- In inoperable tumors, palliative measures (v.a. stents into the bile ducts) may provide relief.
Further notes
- For gallbladder carcinoma stage T1b (= tumor invasion of the tunica muscularis).
- Lymphadenectomy (lymph node removal) prolonged cancer-specific and overall patient survival: Lymphadenectomy resulted in a median survival benefit of 69 to 37 months for those undergoing lymphadenectomy
- Extensive cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) with liver resection (partial liver removal) was not associated with lower mortality (death rate), either without or with lymphadenectomy.