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Gallbladder Cancer Risk Linked to One Type of Bilirubin in Blood

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Causal relationship between serum bilirubin cholelithiasis and hepatobiliary and pancreatic malignancy A bidirectional DOI 10.1097MD.0000000000045333

Doctors have been unsure for a long time if gallstones or bilirubin levels in the blood can lead to liver, gallbladder, or pancreatic cancer. A new study from researchers looked at genes to find out if there’s a real cause between these factors and cancer. This helps avoid mistakes that can happen when looking only at medical history.

The study focused on four things: gallstones, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, and indirect bilirubin. Bilirubin is a substance in our blood that comes from the breakdown of red blood cells. There are two types: direct and indirect.

The researchers found one clear result. High levels of direct bilirubin may increase the risk of gallbladder cancer. People with higher levels had more than three times the risk compared to those with lower levels. This connection was not found with indirect bilirubin or total bilirubin. Gallstones also did not show a direct link to cancer in this study.

They also tested the opposite idea — that maybe gallbladder cancer causes high bilirubin — and found no proof of that. This means the raised bilirubin likely comes first.

Gallbladder cancer is rare but can be serious. This study helps doctors understand one of its possible causes better. It does not mean everyone with high bilirubin will get cancer, but it’s a step toward better screening and prevention.

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Dr. Harsh J Shah

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Dr Harsh Shah - GI & HPB Oncosurgeon in India
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