Gallbladder Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Factors

Gallbladder cancer is a rare cancer with a disproportionate cancer-related mortality. This is attributed to the disease being typically found in more advanced stages. Primarily, the epidemiology of gallbladder cancer is found in the developing world, with the highest incidence in regions of Southern Asia and South America. This work reviews the recent statistics of the disease in the USA and globally and explores the myriad of risk factors that contribute to developing this disease. Diet plays a large component in risk stratification, as downstream sequelae of diets high in sugar and fat also result in several other risk factors, such as obesity and gallstones. Abnormalities in biliary anatomy and pathology contribute to an increased risk as well. Other environmental factors and certain infectious pathogens correlate to increased risk as well. Having a better understanding of the risk factors involved in the development of gallbladder cancer as well as the at-risk populations may lead to earlier diagnosis and improvement in overall survival.