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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2025; 35(02): 218-233
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1789243
Review Article

Update on the Role of Imaging in the Diagnosis, Staging, and Prognostication of Gallbladder Cancer

Authors

  • Pratyaksha Rana

    1   Department of Radiology, U. N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

  • Daneshwari Kalage

    2   Department of Radiology, SDM College of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India

  • Raghuraman Soundararajan

    3   Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

  • Pankaj Gupta 

    4   Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Funding None.
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Abstract

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with dismal prognosis. GBC is characterized by marked geographic predilection. GBC has distinct morphological types that pose unique challenges in diagnosis and differentiation from benign lesions. There are no specific clinical or serological markers of GBC. Imaging plays a key role not only in diagnosis and staging but also in prognostication. Ultrasound (US) is the initial test of choice that allows risk stratification in wall thickening and polypoidal type of gallbladder lesions. US findings guide further investigations and management. Computed tomography (CT) is the test of choice for staging GBC as it allows comprehensive evaluation of the gallbladder lesion, liver involvement, lymph nodes, peritoneum, and other distant sites for potential metastases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography allow better delineation of the biliary system involvement. Contrast-enhanced US and advanced MRI techniques including diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI are used as problem-solving tools in cases where distinction from benign lesion is challenging at US and CT. Positron emission tomography is also used in selected cases for accurate staging of the disease. In this review, we provide an up-to-date insight into the role of imaging in diagnosis, staging, and prognostication of GBC.

Keywords

artificial intelligence - computed tomography - deep learning - gallbladder cancer - magnetic resonance imaging - ultrasound


Publication History

Article published online:
26 August 2024

© 2024. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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