Gallbladder cancer in Chile: A report on 54 potentially resectable tumors

• Published in: Cancer Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 60 - 65
• Main Authors: De Aretxabala, X., Roa, I., Burgos, L, Araya, J. C., Fonseca, L., Wistuba, I., Flores, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.01.1992
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - epidemiology; Adenocarcinoma - surgery; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Chile - epidemiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gallbladder Neoplasms - epidemiology; Gallbladder Neoplasms - surgery; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Surgical Procedures, Operative - methods; Survival Analysis; Chile
• ISSN: 0008-543X; 1097-0142
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19920101)69:1<60::AID-CNCR2820690112>3.0.CO;2-N

Fifty‐four patients with potentially resectable gallbladder tumors, chosen from 205 cases diagnosed at the Pathologic Unit of the authors' institution, were included in a prospective protocol of management. Of the potentially resectable tumors, only four were indicated before cholecystectomy (7.4%). Inconspicuous tumors were frequently observed, explaining in part the poor results of ultrasonogram for diagnosis. Poorly differentiated tumors were related to a greater rate of metastasis and shorter survival. Likewise, younger patients were associated with a worse prognosis. Patients with tumor confined to the mucosal layer were followed‐up only during their postoperative courses. Patients with tumor involvement of the subserosa or muscular layer were offered treatment of a second operation, which included a lymphadenectomy and a liver wedge resection. For patients with serosal involvement, a more aggressive approach was proposed. Metastatic lymph node involvement was found in 9 of the 25 (36%) patients in whom dissection was performed. However, tumor invasion of the liver was seen in 10 of the 24 (41.6%) patients who underwent a liver resection. Patients who had a curative resection had a significantly longer survival in comparison with those who had a palliative resection or simple cholecystectomy.