MedGen

The presence of a neoplasm of the gallbladder. [from HPO]

Carcinoma of the gallbladder (GBC) is the most common and aggressive form of biliary tract cancer (BTC; see this term) usually arising in the fundus of the gallbladder, rapidly metastasizing to lymph nodes and distant sites. [from ORDO]

A rare epithelial carcinoma arising either in the gallbladder itself or from the epithelium lining the extrahepatic biliary tree, cystic duct and/or peribiliary gland. The disease has characteristics of nonspecific symptoms, such as abdominal pain, jaundice and vomiting and sometimes mimicking benign biliary diseases. Chronic biliary epithelial inflammation (for example primary sclerosing cholangitis, cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, liver fluke infestation) is a major risk factor. [from SNOMEDCT_US]

In general, gallbladder disease (GBD) is one of the major digestive diseases. GBD prevalence is particularly high in some minority populations in the United States, including Native and Mexican Americans. Gallstones composed of cholesterol (cholelithiasis) are the common manifestations of GBD in western countries, including the United States. Most people with gallstones remain asymptomatic through their lifetimes; however, it is estimated that approximately 10 to 50% of individuals eventually develop symptoms. Significant risk factors associated with GBD are age, female sex, obesity (especially central obesity), lipids, diet, parity, type 2 diabetes (125853), medications, and Mexican American ethnicity. GBD appears to be strongly related to the metabolic syndrome (605552) and/or its major components, such as hyperinsulinism, dyslipidemia, and abdominal adiposity (Boland et al., 2002; Tsai et al., 2004). Infection, specifically by Helicobacter, has been implicated in cholelithiasis and cholecystitis (Silva et al., 2003; Maurer et al., 2005). Low phospholipid-associated cholelithiasis is a specific form of gallbladder disease characterized by young-adult onset of chronic cholestasis with intrahepatic sludge and cholesterol cholelithiasis. Affected individuals have recurrence of the disorder after cholecystectomy and show a favorable response to treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) (summary by Pasmant et al., 2012). Mutation in the ABCB4 gene can cause a spectrum of related diseases, including the more severe progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis-3 (PFIC3; 602347), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy-3 (ICP3; 614972), andoral contraceptive-induced cholestasis (OCIC; see 614972). Genetic Heterogeneity of Gallbladder Disease Two major susceptibility loci for symptomatic gallbladder disease have been identified on chromosome 1p in Mexican Americans (GBD2, 609918; GBD3, 609919). In addition, variations in the ABCG8 gene (605460) on chromosome 2p21 confer susceptibility to gallbladder disease (GBD4; 611465). [from OMIM]

An adenocarcinoma arising from the epithelium of the extrahepatic bile ducts. Signs and symptoms include abdominal pain, anorexia, jaundice, pruritus, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss. [from NCI]

A carcinoma that arises from the extrahepatic bile ducts. The majority are adenocarcinomas. [from NCI]

A non-metastasizing encapsulated neoplasm arising from nerves in the gallbladder. Morphologically, it is characterized by the presence of fibroblasts and Schwann cells. [from NCI]

A neoplasm that arises from the gallbladder and is characterized by the absence of atypical or malignant cytological and architectural features, and absence of invasive features or metastatic potential. [from NCI]

A carcinoma without evidence of differentiation arising from the gallbladder. The most common variant is the spindle and giant cell type which resembles a sarcoma. [from NCI]

A primary or metastatic malignant neoplasm that affects the extrahepatic bile ducts. Representative examples include carcinoma and sarcoma. [from NCI]