Gallbladder cancer is an uncommon but serious tumour, sometimes discovered unexpectedly after routine gallstone surgery. Early-stage disease is treated with an extended (radical) surgical removal, which offers the best chance of cure.
| Definition | Malignant tumour of the gallbladder |
| Risk factors | Long-standing gallstones, large polyps, chronic inflammation |
| When to see a surgeon | A gallbladder polyp >1 cm, a mass, or cancer found after surgery |
| Curative option | Radical (extended) cholecystectomy for early-stage disease |
What is gallbladder cancer?
Gallbladder cancer develops in the lining of the gallbladder. It is strongly associated with long-standing gallstones and chronic inflammation. Because early symptoms overlap with ordinary gallstone disease, some cancers are only found when the gallbladder is examined after removal.
Symptoms & diagnosis
Early disease may mimic gallstones with right-upper-abdomen pain, or cause no symptoms at all. Later features include jaundice, weight loss and a palpable mass. Diagnosis uses ultrasound, CT/MRI and sometimes endoscopic ultrasound, with careful staging to plan treatment.
Treatment options
For early disease, a radical (extended) cholecystectomy — removing the gallbladder along with adjacent liver tissue and lymph nodes — gives the best chance of cure. When cancer is found incidentally after routine gallbladder surgery, prompt re-assessment by a GI cancer specialist is essential to decide on further surgery.
Why early action matters
Gallbladder cancer can progress quickly, so suspicious gallbladder polyps and incidental cancers should be evaluated without delay. Specialist surgery offers the best outcomes when the disease is caught early.
How we treat Gallbladder Cancer
View all services & treatments →Documented cases from our practice
A "difficult gallbladder" with dense scarring — removed safely by key-hole surgery without conversi…
Read case → Real case Polyp to Prevention: How a Colonoscopy Stopped a CancerA pre-cancerous polyp found and removed during screening — a colon cancer prevented before it could…
Read case → Real case Yellow Eyes to Relief: Clearing a Blocked Bile Duct by EndoscopyDeep jaundice from a bile-duct stone relieved by ERCP — no open surgery needed.
Read case →Visiting consultations near you
Meet Dr. Avinash Tank across Gujarat & Rajasthan — simple cases managed locally, advanced surgery at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
Super-specialist GI, bariatric & cancer surgeon. SGPGIMS (India's premier GI centre) + advanced training in Japan & South Korea. Read full profile →
Last reviewed: June 2026Frequently asked questions
Long-standing gallstones and chronic inflammation raise the risk, which is one reason symptomatic gallstones and large gallbladder polyps are treated rather than ignored.
This is called incidental gallbladder cancer. It should be reviewed promptly by a GI cancer surgeon, as further (radical) surgery is often needed for a cure.
Most small polyps are harmless, but polyps larger than about 1 cm carry a higher risk and are usually removed by taking out the gallbladder.
Early-stage gallbladder cancer can be cured with radical surgery, underlining the importance of prompt specialist assessment.
Gallbladder cancer, often found incidentally after gallstone surgery, needs specialist staging and surgery. Dr. Avinash Tank treats gallbladder cancer at Dwarika Hospital, Ahmedabad.
गॉलब्लैडर कैंसर अक्सर पथरी की सर्जरी के दौरान संयोग से पाया जाता है — इसके लिए विशेषज्ञ स्टेजिंग और सर्जरी की आवश्यकता होती है।
Aksar gallstone surgery ke dauran incidentally pata chalta hai. Uske baad specialist staging aur surgery ki zaroorat hoti hai.
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