Gallbladder cancer
This is the most common type of gallbladder cancer. Around 90 out of every 100 gallbladder cancers (around 90%) are adenocarcinomas. The cancer starts in gland cells in the gallbladder lining. These gland cells normally produce .
There are three types of adenocarcinomas of the gallbladder. You might hear your doctor talking about:
non papillary adenocarcinoma
papillary adenocarcinoma
mucinous adenocarcinoma
Papillary adenocarcinomas develop in the tissues that hold the gallbladder in place (connective tissues). This type of gallbladder cancer is less likely to spread to the liver and nearby lymph nodes. It tends to have a better outlook than most other types of gallbladder cancer.
With mucinous adenocarcinomas, the cancer cells are often in pools of mucus.
Squamous cell cancers develop from the skin like cells that form the lining of the gallbladder, along with the gland cells. They are treated in the same way as adenocarcinomas. Around 5 out of every 100 gallbladder cancers (around 5%) are squamous cell cancers.
Adenosquamous carcinomas are cancers that have both squamous cancer cells and glandular cancer cells. Your doctor might call this a mixed histology. These cancers are treated in the same way as adenocarcinomas.
Small cell carcinomas are also called oat cell carcinomas. This is because the cancer cells have a distinctive oat like shape.
Sarcoma is the name for a cancer that affects the supportive or protecting tissues of the body, also called the connective tissues. Muscles, blood vessels and nerves are all connective tissues. So a cancer that begins in the muscle layer of the gallbladder is called a sarcoma.
Neuroendocrine tumours are rare cancers that grow from hormone producing tissues, usually in the digestive system. The most common type of neuroendocrine tumour is called carcinoid.
These are extremely rare types of gallbladder cancer. They are not necessarily treated in the same way as the other types. For example, lymphomas tend to respond well to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. So it is very unlikely that you would have surgery to treat a lymphoma.
Last reviewed: 25 Sept 2023
Next review due: 26 Sept 2026
The stage of a cancer tells you about its size and whether it has spread. The grade means how abnormal the cells look under the microscope.
You usually start by seeing your GP. They might refer you for tests or to a specialist if you have symptoms that could be caused by gallbladder cancer.
The treatment you might have depends on the size and type of your gallbladder cancer and whether it has spread.
Find out about care and support if gallbladder cancer has spread and how treatment can control symptoms.
Get practical and emotional support to help you cope with a diagnosis of gallbladder cancer, and life during and after treatment.
Gallbladder cancer is when abnormal cells in the gallbladder start to divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.
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