What Should Be Done If Cancer Is Detected After A Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy?

"Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is usually done for gallstone disease, pus in the gallbladder or other reasons when the gallbladder is not functioning well", says Dr Vinay Samuel Gaikwad- Director- Surgical Oncology (Oncology Centre), CK Birla Hospital Gurugram.

Written By: Tavishi Dogra | Updated: January 20, 2024, 8:54 AM

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What Should Be Done If Cancer Is Detected After A Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy? — In This Surgery

The gallbladder should be sent to the pathology laboratory for biopsy/histopathology, even if it looks normal. The chance of cancer in a patient with gallstones is less than 1%. However, around 90% of patients with gallbladder cancer have gallstones, which is the most common cause of gallbladder cancer.

What Should Be Done If Cancer Is Detected After A Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy? — PET Scan

If the biopsy report reveals cancer or is suspicious of cancer, it is essential to consult a surgical oncologist. They will review the histopathology report to understand the tumour penetration amount better. In addition, a PET scan should be done to assess the tumour spread in the body. A tumour marker (Ca 19-9) is also helpful. Also Read - Rising male infertility burden in Delhi-NCR comes into focus this Father’s Day as 40% of fertility patients are affected, doctors say

What Should Be Done If Cancer Is Detected After A Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy? — Stage 1 Or Stage 2

If the stage is very early stage 1 (pT1a), no further treatment is required, and regular follow-up is enough. If the tumour is late stage 1, stage 2, or early stage 3, a revision radical surgery should be done since there is a high chance of residual disease.

What Should Be Done If Cancer Is Detected After A Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy? — Stage 3 Or Stage 4

This entails the removal of part of the liver, surrounding lymph nodes, and sometimes other adjacent organs which are affected by the cancer. This should be done even if the PET scan is normal. If late stage 3 or stage 4, only chemotherapy or chemoradiation is an option, and treatment intent is palliative. Also Read - Kylian Mbappe's speed: How sprint training benefits cardiovascular health

What Should Be Done If Cancer Is Detected After A Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy? — To Sum Up

An oncologist’s opinion is mandatory if cancer is detected on the biopsy report after cholecystectomy, and, more often than not, further treatment is required.