The role and classification of CT scan for gallbladder cancer

Gallbladder cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in the biliary system. It has an insidious onset and its incidence has been steadily increasing in recent years. Many patients have no specific clinical symptoms, so it is not easy to be detected in the early stages. Ultrasound examination is the preferred method for diagnosing gallbladder cancer. If ultrasound examination finds highly suspicious gallbladder cancer, CT examination should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. CT can determine the size, shape, and location of the gallbladder. It can not only diagnose gallbladder cancer, but also provide guidance for surgical selection.

1. The role of CT

CT scan can show the local anatomical relationship between gallbladder and bile duct without overlap, the relationship between liver, porta hepatis and adjacent organs, and can analyze the invasion of gallbladder cancer into the liver and the range of lymph node metastasis. It is not affected by chest ribs, subcutaneous fat, and gastrointestinal inflation, and can use contrast agents to enhance contrast and perform thin-layer scans of the gallbladder area.

2. CT classification

The CT imaging changes of gallbladder cancer can be divided into three types: wall thickness type, nodular type and mutation type:

1. Thick wall type: The gallbladder wall of thick wall type gallbladder cancer is irregularly and asymmetrically thickened, and the gallbladder is obviously enhanced during enhanced scanning.

2. Nodular type: Nodular gallbladder cancer is a lobed soft tissue nodule in the gallbladder cavity with a transverse diameter greater than 1.0 cm.

3. Solid type: In the solid type of gallbladder cancer, the gallbladder wall is extensively infiltrated and thickened by the tumor, and the cancer mass fills the cavity to form a substantial mass.