The gallbladder is located just beneath your liver and its main function is to store the bile. Gallbladder polyps\u00a0are small growths that arise in the inner lining of the gallbladder.\u00a0They are fairly common and are usually benign but big polyps can become cancerous. It is better to get it checked, because if they are detected early, the prognosis is very good.<\/p>\n
Symptoms of gallbladder polyps<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n What can put someone at risk for gallbladder polyps?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Diagnosis<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n There are several steps for diagnosing gall bladder cancer. They include:-<\/p>\n Blood tests to evaluate liver function. Stages of gallbladder cancer<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Stage I<\/strong> – confined to the inner layers of the gallbladder.<\/p>\n Stage II<\/strong> – invades the outer layer of the gallbladder.<\/p>\n Stage III<\/strong> \u2013 invades nearby organs (liver, small intestine, stomach) and nearby lymph nodes.<\/p>\n Stage IV<\/strong> – has spread to distant areas of the body.<\/p>\n Treatment<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Surgery is usually the recommended course of action to treat gallbladder cancer, especially in the early stages. This surgery is called a cholecystectomy and is done to remove the gallbladder.<\/p>\n If the cancer has spread to the liver, the gallbladder and affected area of liver may have to be surgically removed.<\/p>\n Chemotherapy and radiation therapy or a combination of both may be used before a cholecystectomy to minimize the size of the tumour and after surgery to eradicate any remaining cancerous cells.<\/p>\n\n
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\nImaging tests like ultrasound, CT scans and an MRI.
\nEndoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
\nBiopsy
\nLaparoscopy to gauge the extent of cancerous growth<\/p>\n