Adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder--a 5 year review of outcome in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Patients presenting with adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder within Newcastle upon Tyne over a 5 year period (1980-1985) were reviewed retrospectively. The mean age of patients on diagnosis was 74 years. Of the 29 patients diagnosed, two were detected after routine cholecystectomy. Laparotomy was performed in 21 patients (72%) of which only 14 patients had a cholecystectomy performed. Mean survival after surgery was 6.6 months with only one patient alive after 5 years. Metastatic disease was present in 72% of patients. The poor prognosis of carcinoma of the gallbladder reflects its late diagnosis and early metastasis to distant sites. Improvement in survival will depend upon early detection of in situ lesions and identification of at risk patients.