Biopsy:

In this test the doctors remove a small amount of tissue as a sample that need to be examined by a Pathologist under microscope. The pathologist examines this tissue, evaluates it and then tries to know the exact cause of gallbladder cancer. There are different ways to be employed for the biopsy; the doctor may go for a surgery; for a core biopsy/ fine needle aspiration;  for CT/Cat scan.

The doctor sometimes combines the endoscopy with the biopsy. First they insert the endoscope, a thin, lighted, flexible tube, into the first part of the intestine by the way of stomach and mouth. A tool then passed to the escape  for the removal of a sample of tissue.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP):

With the mean of this test the doctors are able to see the inside area of  the body.  At start the doctors lightly sedated the patient so that an endoscope can be easily passed from mouth to esophagus and then to small bowel via stomach.  After inserting the endoscope doctor passed a smaller tube or catheter into the bile ducts. A special dye is injected to ducts and afterwards  tumor prevalence is checked  by taking x-rays.  This test is usually performed by an expert gastroenterologist who is specialized in the function and disorder of gastrointestinal tract. Normally this test is used to get the confirmation of cancer growth in the bile ducts but it may be used for gallbladder , in case the gallbladder cancer spreads and blocks the bile ducts.

Percutaneous cholangiography:

In this advanced technology procedure, the doctor insert a thin needle into the gallbladder via skin and a special dye is injected. In this way the high quality contrasted images will be shown on the x-ray. By checking these images, the doctor easily diagnoses the cancer growth in the bile duct and in gallbladder.

Laparoscopy:

The doctors used an endoscope to see the inside area of body such as gallbladder and other internal organs in the laparoscopy. The doctor performed this test after the small incision. The tube is inserted in the abdomen after this incision.

Blood tests:

Through blood test the doctors try to examine the abnormal levels of bilirubin and other substance. When the bile duct is blocked by the gallbladder cancer then the level of bilirubin chemical exceeds therefore doctor check the blood sample.

Imaging test such as CT scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, x-rays and PET scan can also be used for the diagnosis.

The exact causes of gallbladder cancer are not known but a number of risk factors are associated with its occurrence.

Heredity: It is believed and it is common that those who come from families in which a  close relative has gallbladder cancer are at higher risk of getting the disease.  Porcelain gallbladder refers to a condition where calcium deposits build up on the inside of the bladder, increasing the risk of contracting gallbladder cancer.

Cigarette smoking and some industrial chemicals contain nitrosamines. These are capable of damaging DNA and increase the risk of developing gallbladder cancer.

Some people are born with abnormalities on their bile ducts. These may be outgrowths along the bile duct or an abnormality between the bile duct and the pancreas. Having this conditions increase the risk of developing gallbladder cancer.

Obesity: This is the deposition of excessive fat around the body, especially in the sub-cutaneous tissue. Being overweight causes changes in hormones in the body, particularly for women. It could be this change in the body’s hormone balance that increases the risk of gallbladder cancer.

Diet: A diet that is rich in carbohydrates and low in fibre may increase the risk of gallbladder cancer. It has been confirmed that a diet rich in vitamins E, A and C, which are antioxidants, greatly reduce the risk of contracting any cancer.

Typhoid fever: It has been noted that repeated infection of Typhoid fever by Typhoid bacteria increases the risk of contracting gallbladder cancer than those who have not been infected. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Using HRT increases the risk of getting gallstones, which eventually increases the risk of developing gallbladder cancer.

Gallstones and inflammation: These Two are the common risk factors of gallbladder cancer.  Having gallstones doubles the risk of developing gallbladder cancer. Here you can also see what is gallbladder cancer.

There are Three main layers of the gallbladder: Serosal (outer) layer, Muscularis (middle) layer and the Mucosal (inner) layer. There are supportive connecting tissues between these layers and gallbladder cancer mostly starts in mucosal (inner) layer, spreading to the outer layer as it grows.

As is with other forms of cancer, a number of risk factors are thought to be a cause of gallbladder cancer. These include: Smoking, Lack of vital minerals and nutrients in the body leading to cell mutation in the gallbladder tissues and poor hygiene. Gallbladder is most common in native Americans and more so in women. However, gallbladder cancer has been diagnosed all over the world.

Gallbladder cancer shows certain symptoms or signs: (a) Jaundice. This is the yellowing of the skin accompanied by whiteness of the eyes. This is thought to be because of cancer cells infecting the bile duct leading to accumulation of fats in the intestines. (b) Pain above or at times in the stomach (c) High continuous fever (d) Nausea and vomiting (e) Bloating. It is advisable for one to visit a specialist if he/she experiences one or a combination of these symptoms.

Treatment of gallbladder cancer in most cases takes the form of chemotherapy. Eating a diet rich in foods that contain high levels of vitamins K, C, minerals and amino acids regularly greatly lowers the risk of getting gallbladder cancer as some of these vitamins and minerals have cancer fighting properties.