Primary gallbladder carcer in Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Gallbladder carcinoma [GBC] is rare neoplasm. Very little information is available in the literature regarding the pattern of this cancer in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. The objective of this is to review all the cases of GBC and to review the epidemiological, clinical, and pathological features of GBC in two major institutions in KSA. We retrospectively reviewed the records of the pathology department at king Abdulaziz university hospital [1997-2005] and king Faisal specialist hospital and research center, Jeddah [200-2005]. All the primary gallbladder carcinomas were included in the study. Only twenty eight cases of primary GBC were identified. The age ranged between 30 and 90 years. Mean age was 64 years. There were 22 female and 6 male female ratio was 1 3.7. The patients presented clinically with symptoms of cholecystitis. Polypoid lesions have been seen in 12 cases, wall thickening in 14 cases and ulcerative lesions in 2 cases. The tumor size ranged between 1 and 7 cm. Microscopic evaluation revealed well differentiated carcinoma in 9 cases, moderately differentiated in 15 cases and poorly differentiated in 4 cases. The tumor invaded the serosa in 7 cases, muscle in 20 cases and only case limited to the lamina propria. GBC is a rare neoplasm in Saudi population. Careful pathoiogical examination of an the gallbladders resected for either inflammation or because gallstone is very important. Well sampling of any abnormal areas is recommended to detect incidental carcinoma in cases, which are not suspected clinically