Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2019 May;5(2):93-102.
doi: 10.5114/ceh.2019.85166. Epub 2019 May 23.

Epidemiology of gallbladder cancer

Prashanth Rawla  1 , Tagore Sunkara  2 , Krishna Chaitanya Thandra  3 , Adam Barsouk  4
Affiliations
Review

Epidemiology of gallbladder cancer

Prashanth Rawla et al. Clin Exp Hepatol. 2019 May.

Abstract

According to GLOBOCAN 2018 data, gallbladder cancer (GBC) accounts for 1.2% of all global cancer diagnoses, but 1.7% of all cancer deaths. Only 1 in 5 GBC cases in the United States is diagnosed at an early stage, and median survival for advanced stage cancer is no more than about a year. The incidence of the disease is increasing in the developed world. Gallstones, biliary cysts, carcinogen exposure, typhoid, and Helicobacter pylori infection, and abnormal pancreaticobiliary duct junctions are all risk factors, many of which account for its geographical, ethnic and sex distribution. Genetics also plays a strong role, as about a quarter of GBC cases are considered familial, and certain ethnicities, such as Native Americans, are at far higher risk for the neoplasm. Prevention includes weight loss, vaccination against and treatment of bacterial infections, early detection and elimination of polyps and cysts, and avoidance of oral estrogen replacement therapy.

Keywords: etiology; incidence; mortality; risk factor; survival.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map showing estimated age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) in 2018 for gallbladder cancer, both sexes, all ages. Created with mapchart.net. Data obtained from Globocan 2018 [7]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bar chart showing the estimated age-standardized cancer mortality rates (world) in 2018, worldwide, both sexes, all ages (reproduced from http://globocan.iarc.fr/ [7])
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Map showing estimated age-standardized mortality rates (ASR) in 2018 for gallbladder cancer, both sexes, all ages. Created with mapchart.net. Data obtained from Globocan 2018 [7]
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Trends in gallbladder cancer incidence (1975-2015) rates by sex, US [9]
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Gallbladder cancer 5-year SEER relative survival rates, 2008-2014 by sex and stage at diagnosis [9]
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Mortality – age-standardized rates (world) vs. Human Development Index, gallbladder, in 2018, both sexes, all ages (reproduced from http://globocan.iarc.fr/ [7])
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Abou-Alfa GK, Jarnagin W, Lowery M, et al. In: Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology – Liver and Bile Duct Cancer. 5th. Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, et al., editors. Philadelphia: Sanders; 2014. pp. 1373–1396.
    1. Bray F, Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, et al. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018;68:394–424. - PubMed
    1. Nuzzo G, Clemente G, Cadeddu F, et al. Papillary carcinoma of the gallbladder and anomalous pancreatico-biliary junction. Report of three cases and review of the literature. Hepatogastroenterology. 2005;52:1034–1038. - PubMed
    1. Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, et al., editors. SEER Cancer Statistics Review. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute; 1975-2014. Available from: https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2014/. Accessed 20 December 2018.
    1. Henley SJ, Weir HK, Jim MA, et al. Gallbladder cancer incidence and mortality, United States 1999-2011. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2015;24:1319–1326. - PubMed