Gallbladder adenocarcinoma overview

Overview
Gallbladder adenocarcinoma is overall uncommon, but the most common primary hepatobiliary carcinoma and the fifth most common malignancy of the GI tract.

Over 85 out of every 100 gallbladder cancers (85%) are adenocarcinomas. There are three types of adenocarcinomas:


 * Non papillary adenocarcinoma
 * Papillary adenocarcinoma
 * Mucinous adenocarcinoma

More than 75 out of every 100 gallbladder cancers (75%) are non-papillary adenocarcinomas.

Only about 6 out of every 100 diagnosed gallbladder cancers (6%) are papillary adenocarcinomas. These develop in the tissues that hold the gallbladder in place (connective tissues). This type of gallbladder cancer is less likely to spread to the liver and nearby lymph nodes. It tends to have a better outlook than most other types of gallbladder cancer.

With mucinous adenocarcinomas, the cancer cells are often in pools of mucus, which is how the cancer gets its name. Only about 1 or 2 out of every 100 gallbladder cancers (1 or 2%) are mucinous adenocarcinomas.