Serious Causes And Complications Of Gallstones

Gallbladder Cancer

The biggest known risk factor of gallbladder cancer is the previous development of gallstones. Gallbladder cancer occurs most often in individuals who experience inflammation of the gallbladder or cholelithiasis. Inflammation of the gallbladder tissue that occurs as a result of gallstones increases the chance of gallbladder cancer for two main reasons. Chronic irritation and cellular damage provide more of an opportunity for a genetic mutation to occur during cellular repair and replacement. Gallstones also cause the production of substances in the gallbladder that promote epithelial dysplasia and proliferation. These processes cause the initiation of the dysplasia-carcinoma sequence, which ultimately leads to the development of gallbladder cancer. Most cases of gallbladder cancer in patients who have had gallstones tend to develop when the gallstones have remained in the gallbladder for an extended duration. Stones that remain in the gallbladder for long periods can produce chronic trauma to the mucosa that is required for carcinogenesis to occur.