Publication:

Spectrum of computed tomography findings in gall bladder carcinoma patients: a retrospective observational study from tertiary care oncology setup

Background Gallbladder carcinoma (CA) is the most common primary biliary carcinoma and fifth most common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients are usually asymptomatic early in the course of the disease and as a result, therapeutic window is usually missed. Authors discuss spectrum of imaging findings in CA gall bladder with multidetector computed tomography (CT) as modality of choice.

Methods Retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Shaukat Khanum memorial hospital and research centre. Data from January 2019 to January 2020 which included 70 patients was collected from HIS. Patients with imaging findings of CA gall bladder were examined who had undergone contrast enhanced CT. Institutional review board approved this study.

Results Out of 70 cases in this study, cholelithiasis was present in 60%. The commonest MDCT finding was mass replacing GB (78.6%), followed by eccentric/diffuse gall bladder wall thickening. Extension to porta hepatis was noted in 25 (35.7%) cases. Antroduodenal involvement was noted in 11 (15.8%), hepatic flexure involvement in 8 (11.4%). Vascular encasement/thrombosis of the portal vein noted in 6 (8.6%). Metastasis at presentation was seen in 16 patients i.e., 22.9%. Majority patients presented with stage III and IV disease.

Conclusions Single-center tertiary care oncology hospital study gives insight about imaging findings of carcinoma gallbladder. Authors conclude that multidetector CT is the diagnostic tool of choice in detection of gall bladder carcinoma, locoregional disease, distant metastasis and hence operability and non-operability of the disease.