Library · Neoplasm
Gallbladder cancer and gallstones
Make it clearer
Gallbladder cancer is named for the place where it starts: in the cells that make up the tissues of the gallbladder. The name works like a family's last name. It tells you where everyone came from, but not that everyone is alike, because it covers several histologic types, meaning variants told apart by how the tissue looks under the microscope. Adenocarcinoma is one of the main categories in that family; using it for every case would be like calling the whole family by one sibling's name.
In brief
Gallbladder cancer is defined by where it starts: it begins in the cells that make up gallbladder tissue.
The disease includes several histologic types. Adenocarcinoma is one of the major categories, not a name for all of them.
Gallstones are linked to many cases, but that link does not mean everyone with gallstones will develop cancer: only a small minority do.
Sources (2)
- National Cancer InstituteGallbladder Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient VersionPublished
- National Cancer InstituteGallbladder Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional VersionPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated