WORLD JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a relatively uncommon gastrointestinal carcinoma, but its incidence is increasing worldwide and its prognosis is rather poor [1]. Early diagnosis and radical resection, when possible, are helpful in improving prognosis. However, it is usually impossible to diagnose GBC at its early stages due to the lack of obvious and specific symptoms. Common symptoms do not develop until GBC is at an advanced stage and include steady pain and discomfort in the upper right abdomen. Clinically, over 90 % of GBC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage when the outcome of surgical therapy is very poor. Most patients die within one year after diagnosis [2]. The majority of GBC is adenocarcinoma (AC), accounting for abou