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Cancer of the gallbladder is often hard to find. That's partly due to its interior location. And it's also because many people do not have any symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
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Abdominal ultrasound is an imaging test that uses sound waves to form pictures of your abdominal organs. It can help detect organ problems, such as gallstones, kidney stones, or liver disease.
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Computed tomography (CT) is a test that combines x-rays and computer scans. The result is a detailed picture that can show problems with soft tissues (such as the lining of your sinuses), organs (such as your kidneys or lungs), and bones.
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that lets your doctor see detailed pictures of the inside of your body. MRI combines the use of strong magnets and radio waves to form an MRI image.
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If you have painful attacks caused by gallstones, your doctor may recommend removing your gallbladder. This can be done using a type of surgery called laparoscopic cholecystectomy. People who have this procedure usually recover more quickly and have less pain than with open surgery.
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Stage is the word doctors use to describe the size of a cancerous tumor as well as where and how far it has spread. The first place cancer is found in your body is called the primary site or primary tumor. When a cancer spreads, it's said to have metastasized.
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