Staging and procedure of gallbladder cancer surgery

What are the stages and procedures of gallbladder cancer surgery?

Gallbladder cancer is usually uncommon and in order to understand the current condition and severity of gallbladder cancer, it is important to determine the stage. Gallbladder cancer staging also helps to find whether it is affecting the other parts of the body. Based on the stages, gallbladder cancer surgery is performed.

Stages of gallbladder cancer

After diagnosis, the best gallstone surgeon treats based on the following aspects:

• Tumour: How large the primary tumour is and its position. 
• Node: Whether it has spread to other lymph nodes and, if so, where and how many. 
• Metastasis: Whether it has spread to other body parts and, if so, where and how much.

Before undergoing gallbladder cancer surgery, a surgeon assesses the following cancer stages of the gallbladder.

Stage 0: This is a stage where the malignant tumour found in the gallbladder can be removed and cured completely.

Stage I: A malignant tumour found in the gallbladder can be removed through surgery. This stage of gallbladder cancer holds a high chance of getting completely cured.

Stage II: In this stage, the tumour extends to the perimuscular connective tissue but has not spread to other parts. With the help of surgery, a surgeon can remove the malignant tumour. This stage of gallbladder cancer holds a partial chance of getting completely cured.

Stage IIIA: In this stage, a tumour will spread beyond the gallbladder but not to the nearby veins or arteries. At the same time, it will also not spread to any lymph nodes or other body parts.

Stage IIIB: This is a stage when a malignant tumour of any size spreads to the neighbouring lymph nodes but not to the arteries or veins, or any other body parts.

Stage IVA: In this stage of gallbladder cancer, the malignant tumour will spread to the nearby veins, arteries and lymph nodes. The chance of curing gallbladder cancer at stage IVA is almost zero.

Stage IVB: In this stage, the tumour in the gallbladder will spread to other body parts. There is no chance of curing gallbladder cancer at stage IVB.

The procedure of gallbladder cancer surgery

Out of every surgical method, laparoscopic surgery is one of the most advanced forms of treatment. During this surgery, a laparoscopic gallbladder surgeon makes a small incision within the abdomen and inserts a laparoscope for better monitoring.

This is how a surgeon performs gallbladder cancer surgery based on the condition and the stage of gallbladder cancer.