[Morphological prognostic elements in gallbladder cancer].

BACKGROUND

The exact survival rates and prognostic factors of gallbladder cancer are still incompletely known.

AIM

To report the actuarial survival of patients with gallbladder cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Six hundred thirty seven women, aged 59 years old as a mean and 108 men, aged 64 years old as a mean, with gallbladder cancer are reported. Patients were followed for up to 150 months.

RESULTS

Two hundred twenty four patients had an early and 521 had an advanced carcinoma. Overall survival was 38% at ten years. Sex or ethnic origin did not influence survival. Early tumors had a 92% survival at 10 years whereas the survival of advanced tumors was 16% at 5 years. Subserous tumors had a 5 years survival of 32% whereas serous tumors had a 5 years survival of 11%. Well-differentiated advanced tumors had a significantly better survival than moderately or poorly differentiated tumors. Vascular or lymphatic infiltration was also associated to a lower survival. All patients with advanced tumors and vascular infiltration died before 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor infiltration and differentiation degree were the most important prognostic independent factors in gallbladder cancer.