Palliation in Gall Bladder Cancer

Majority of patients with gall bladder cancer have locally advanced unresectable or metastatic disease and are beyond resection. They need palliation from pain, jaundice, and gastrointestinal obstruction. Palliation is, by and large, nonsurgical, i.e., endoscopic or percutaneous radiological; surgery is rarely required for palliation. Celiac plexus neurolysis may help control pain. Jaundice is taken care of by biliary drainage using stents. Endoscopic biliary drainage is preferred but percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage may be required in high biliary obstruction. Gastroduodenal obstruction can be palliated by placement of stents but intestinal obstruction may need surgical intervention. Chemo and/or radiotherapy are being increasingly used in definitive palliative stetting.