What tests can detect gallbladder cancer

Patients should have a correct understanding of the diagnosis of gallbladder cancer. So, what tests are there for early diagnosis of gallbladder cancer? The following introduces the tests for gallbladder cancer.

1. Ultrasound examination:

B-ultrasound examination is simple, non-destructive and can be used repeatedly. Its diagnostic accuracy rate is over 90%, making it the preferred method for diagnosing gallbladder diseases. With the continuous upgrading of instruments, it is now possible to not only clearly observe the size of gallbladder lesions, but also to help determine whether cancer has occurred by observing the blood flow of the lesion tissue. It can also observe whether there is obvious lymph node metastasis and whether the liver is involved. Experienced examiners can even determine which layer of the gallbladder is affected by the lesion.

2. CT scan:

CT scans are not as good as ultrasound for the diagnosis of early gallbladder cancer. However, for patients who have been found to have highly suspected gallbladder cancer by ultrasound, enhanced CT examination is necessary. The CT imaging changes of gallbladder cancer can be divided into three types:

① Thick wall type: localized or diffuse irregular thickening of the gallbladder wall.

② Nodular type: Papillary nodules protrude from the gallbladder wall into the cavity.

③ Solid type: The gallbladder wall is extensively infiltrated and thickened by the tumor, and the intracavitary cancer is filled to form a substantial mass. During enhanced scanning, it can generally be seen that the lesion tissue has a rich blood supply. If the tumor invades the liver or has related lymph node metastasis, it can often be shown under CT images.

3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI):

MRI is generally not the first choice or necessary examination for gallbladder cancer. It can only be considered when it is necessary to determine whether the lesion involves the liver or when the patient has obstructive jaundice. Its accuracy is similar to that of CT, but it has the advantage of no radiation damage and can be repeated many times.

4. PET-CT:

As a relatively qualitative examination item, under the premise of excluding acute cholecystitis, this examination can help to make a qualitative diagnosis of gallbladder space-occupying lesions and help determine whether there are lesions outside the gallbladder. However, it is expensive and prone to false positive results when combined with acute cholecystitis, so it is generally not used as a routine examination.

5. Laboratory examination:

When gallbladder lesions become cancerous, they are usually accompanied by an increase in tumor marker levels. Checking whether serum tumor markers (CEA, Ca125, Ca19-9, Ca724, Ca153, etc.) are elevated is helpful for qualitative diagnosis of gallbladder cancer, but early cancer may not show an increase, or when combined with other digestive tract diseases and certain tumors, the test may have false positive results. Liver function tests are generally normal, and only when there is bile duct obstruction will there be related abnormal manifestations.

The above are the tests and examinations for gallbladder cancer, which play a key role in the diagnosis of the disease. The examination methods are very important for understanding the patient's condition and should be taken seriously.