The continuing challenge of gallbladder cancer. Survey of thirty years' experience at the University of Chicago.

The current concepts of the etiologic factors and spread of carcinoma of the gallbladder are discussed. The experience at the university of Chicago with this condition over a period of thirty years is reviewed. Of eighty-two cases diagnosed during this time, 88 per cent of the patients died within one year of diagnosis and the five year survival rate was 5 per cent. The difficulties in diagnosis of cholecystic neoplasms are considered, and the possibility of increasing diagnostic accuracy by the use of celiac axis angiography, immunologic tests for tumor-associated antigens, peptide hormone assays, and cytologic study of duodenal juice is discussed. The place of palliative surgery in the management of cancer of the gallbladder is outlined. Means of improving the current high mortality of this condition are evaluated, and a plea is made for a controlled trial of the various forms of treatment that have been suggested.