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Gallbladder Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

Health Professional Version
Last Modified: 02/15/2013

Cellular Classification of Gallbladder Cancer

Some histologic types of gallbladder cancer have a better prognosis than others; papillary carcinomas have the best prognosis. The histologic types of gallbladder cancer include the following:[1]

  • Carcinoma in situ.
  • Adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified (NOS).
  • Papillary carcinoma.
  • Adenocarcinoma, intestinal type.
  • Clear cell adenocarcinoma.
  • Mucinous carcinoma.
  • Signet-ring cell carcinoma.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma.
  • Adenosquamous carcinoma.
  • Small cell (oat cell) carcinoma.*
  • Undifferentiated carcinoma.*
    • Spindle and giant cell types.
    • Small cell types.
  • Carcinoma, NOS.
  • Carcinosarcoma.
  • Other (specify).

*Grade 4 by definition.

References
  1. Gallbladder. In: Edge SB, Byrd DR, Compton CC, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 7th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2010, pp 211-7.