Modern perspectives on factors predisposing to the development of gallbladder cancer. HPB (Oxford) 2013 Nov;15(11):839-44
Date
03/06/2013Pubmed ID
23458506Pubmed Central ID
PMC4503280DOI
10.1111/hpb.12046Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84886087792 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 46 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare malignancy, yet certain groups are at higher risk. Knowledge of predisposing factors may facilitate earlier diagnosis by enabling targeted investigations into otherwise non-specific presenting signs and symptoms. Detecting GBC in its initial stages offers patients their best chance of cure.
METHODS: PubMed was searched for recent articles (2008-2012) on the topic of risk factors for GBC. Of 1490 initial entries, 32 manuscripts reporting on risk factors for GBC were included in this review.
RESULTS: New molecular perspectives on cholesterol cycling, hormonal factors and bacterial infection provide fresh insights into the established risk factors of gallstones, female gender and geographic locality. The significance of polyps in predisposing to GBC is probably overstated given the known dysplasia-carcinoma and adenoma-carcinoma sequences active in this disease. Bacteria such as Salmonella species may contribute to regional variations in disease prevalence and might represent powerful targets of therapy to reduce incidences in high-risk areas. Traditional risk factors such as porcelain gallbladder, Mirizzi's syndrome and bile reflux remain important as predisposing factors.
CONCLUSIONS: Subcentimetre gallbladder polyps rarely become cancerous. Because gallbladder wall thickening is often the first sign of malignancy, all gallbladder imaging should be scrutinized carefully for this feature.
Author List
Pilgrim CH, Groeschl RT, Christians KK, Gamblin TCAuthors
Kathleen K. Christians MD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of WisconsinThomas Clark Gamblin MD Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
CholecystitisGallbladder Neoplasms
Gallstones
Global Health
Humans
Incidence
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
