Types of Cancer » Gallbladder Cancer

gallbladder cancer (GAWL-bla-der KAN-ser) Cancer that forms in tissues of the gallbladder. The gallbladder is a pear-shaped organ below the liver that collects and stores bile (a fluid made by the liver to digest fat). Gallbladder cancer begins in the innermost layer of tissue and spreads through the outer layers as it grows.

gallbladder (GAWL-blad-er) The pear-shaped organ found below the liver. Bile is concentrated and stored in the gallbladder.

stage 0 gallbladder cancer In stage 0, cancer is found in the innermost (mucosal) layer of the gallbladder only. Stage 0 cancer is also called carcinoma in situ.

stage IA gallbladder cancer Stage I gallbladder cancer is divided into stages IA and IB. In stage IA, cancer has spread beyond the innermost (mucosal) layer to the connective tissue or to the muscle layer.

stage IB gallbladder cancer Stage I gallbladder cancer is divided into stages IA and IB. In stage IB, cancer has spread beyond the muscle layer to the connective tissue around the muscle.

stage IIA gallbladder cancer Stage II gallbladder cancer is divided into stages IIA and IIB. In stage IIA, cancer has spread beyond the tissue that covers the gallbladder and/or to the liver and/or to one nearby organ, such as the stomach, small intestine, colon, pancreas, or bile ducts outside the liver.

stage IIB gallbladder cancer Stage II gallbladder cancer is divided into stages IIA and IIB. In stage IIB, cancer has spread in one of the following ways: (1) beyond the innermost layer to the connective tissue and to nearby lymph nodes; or (2) to the muscle layer and nearby lymph nodes; or (3) beyond the muscle layer to the connective tissue around the muscle and nearby lymph nodes; or (4) through the tissue that covers the gallbladder and/or to the liver and/or to one nearby organ, such as the stomach, small intestine, colon, pancreas, or bile ducts outside the liver, and to nearby lymph nodes.

stage III gallbladder cancer In stage III, cancer has spread to a main blood vessel in the liver or to nearby organs and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

stage IV gallbladder cancer In stage IV, cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and/or to organs far away from the gallbladder.