Gallbladder carcinoma is often discovered as an incidental finding after cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) (about 1% of cases).
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate advanced gallbladder carcinoma (gallbladder cancer):
Late symptoms
- Palpable swelling in the gallbladder area.
- Occlusive icterus – yellowing of the skin and eyes due to obstruction of the bile ducts.
- Pressing pain in the right upper abdomen
The combination of a palpable, painlessly enlarged bulging elastic gallbladder under the right costal arch and occlusive icterus (jaundice due to biliary obstruction caused by a drainage obstruction) is called Courvoisier’s sign. The most common cause is chronic tumor-related choledochal obstruction (common bile duct) due to distal cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC, cholangiocarcinoma, bile duct carcinoma, bile duct cancer) or pancreatic head carcinoma (pancreatic head cancer). If ductal obstruction has occurred acutely, for example, because of choledocholithiasis (bile duct stone disease), the gallbladder is painfully enlarged.
