Gall bladder carcinoma: the facts and the mimics

Abstract

Gall bladder carcinoma (GBC) is the most common biliary epithelial neoplasm. Its slow progression and late presentation lend it a poor prognosis. The risk factors can be divided into cholelithiasis, inflammatory causes, infection, exposure, and gall bladder pathologies. It usually spreads by hematogenous or lymphatic route or directly invades the liver. There are many controversies related to guidelines for management of gall bladder polyps and treatment options. This review article attempts to give definitive guidelines for the same and helps the reader distinguish it from other benign mimickers. The emerging role of newer modalities like contrast ultrasound, elastography, and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography has also been briefly mentioned. This paper reviews the literature to provide concise background, etiopathogenesis, radiological findings, and management options of GBC. Out of all the available modalities MDCT, FDG-PET CT, and image-guided biopsies play the most important role in diagnosis and follow-up. Imaging remains elementary in pre-operative planning and management of gall bladder neoplasms.