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Gallbladder cancer |
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Gallbladder cancer
From
MayoClinic.com
Causes Although just what causes gallbladder and bile duct cancers is unclear, scientists believe that bile may play a role. Bile is a bitter, yellow-green fluid produced in the cells of your liver. It's essential for the proper digestion of fats and is one of the main ways your body eliminates drugs, cholesterol and waste products of metabolism from your body. Bile flows from your liver through a thin tube called the common hepatic duct and enters your gallbladder through another small tube (cystic duct). Inside your gallbladder, water is extracted from the bile, making it highly concentrated. The bile is then stored in your gallbladder. When you eat, your gallbladder contracts and releases the bile into the common bile duct a continuation of the hepatic and cystic ducts. The common bile duct then carries the bile to the upper part of your small intestine (duodenum), where it begins to help break down the fat in your food. Gallbladder cancer Healthy cells grow and divide in an orderly way. This process is controlled by DNA the genetic material that contains the instructions for every chemical process in your body. When DNA is damaged, changes occur in these instructions. One result is that cells may begin to grow out of control and eventually form a mass of cells (a tumor). Researchers believe that DNA in the cells of your biliary tract may sometimes be damaged by toxins that your liver routinely metabolizes. These toxins are released into bile so that they can be eliminated from your body. But if bile empties more slowly than usual, it increases the amount of time your gallbladder cells are exposed to cancer-causing substances (carcinogens). Most gallbladder tumors develop in the cells lining the inner surface of the gallbladder (epithelial cells). These tumors are known as adenocarcinomas a term that describes the way the cancer cells look when viewed under a microscope. Gallbladder adenocarcinoma is highly invasive and can quickly penetrate deep into the gallbladder wall. The tumor becomes more threatening as it moves through layers of tissue from the inner surface to the outside of the gallbladder. Eventually it may involve nearby lymph nodes, obstruct the bile duct or invade nearby organs such as the liver. Cancer cells may also travel through the bloodstream to more remote parts of the body (metastasis). Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) Cancer can develop in any part of the bile duct that stretches from your liver to your small intestine. Many tumors occur in the hepatic duct just as it leaves the liver. These are known as perihilar tumors. Other tumors may develop in the bile duct near the small intestine (distal tumors) or inside the liver itself (intrahepatic tumors). The majority of bile duct cancers are adenocarcinomas that originate in the mucous glands lining the inside of the ducts. By the time these cancers are diagnosed, they often have spread to other tissues and organs. Risk factors Researchers have identified a number of factors that increase your risk of both gallbladder and bile duct tumors. Gallbladder cancer Gallstones solid deposits of cholesterol or calcium salts that form in your gallbladder are the single greatest risk factor for gallbladder cancer. Between 75 percent and 90 percent of people diagnosed with gallbladder cancer also have gallstones. Researchers speculate that gallstones may cause your gallbladder to release bile more slowly, which increases the amount of time cells are exposed to toxins. Even so, the vast majority of people with gallstones never develop gallbladder cancer. Other risk factors include:
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also increase your risk of developing gallbladder cancer. Bile duct cancer Bile duct cancers are rare. These cancers occur about equally in men and women and often develop between the ages of 50 and 70. Other risk factors include:
Gallbladder cancer > 1 > 2 > 3 > 4
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Treatments Treatments Programs:
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