Early carcinoma of the gallbladder: an elusive disease.

Prognosis of carcinoma of the gallbladder can be improved by diagnosing the disease in the early stages. Records of 14 patients with early (UICC AJCC TNM stages I and II) carcinoma of the gallbladder were analyzed. Clinical presentation in all these patients was like benign biliary disease. Ultrasonography could diagnose carcinoma of the gallbladder in only five patients; in the remaining nine patients, even the ultrasonographic diagnosis was benign biliary disease. All patients were operated; carcinoma of the gallbladder was diagnosed at operation in two more patients, but it was first detected only after histological examination in seven patients. All patients except four had associated gallstones. Preoperative diagnosis of early carcinoma of the gallbladder is difficult. The only way to diagnose early carcinoma of the gallbladder is by early surgical treatment of patients with clinical features of benign biliary disease.