Gallbladder and Biliary Cancer Program

Our approach to care

Care is personalized and coordinated across specialties. We focus on clear communication, shared decision-making, and continuity of care, supporting patients and families throughout diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

Multispecialty care team

Our specialists meet regularly to discuss each patient’s care plan and progress. Your team may include:

• Endoscopists
• Medical, radiation, and surgical oncologists
• Gastroenterologists
• Oncology nurses and nurse practitioners
• Nutritionists
• Oncology psychiatrists and social workers
• Palliative care providers
• Pathologists and diagnostic radiologists

Expert diagnosis and staging

Our pathologists and diagnostic radiologists are subspecialized in detecting and staging gallbladder cancer. Staging indicates how early or advanced cancer is. Our diagnostic tests include:

• 3D imaging for surgical planning
• Combined PET/CT scans
• High-speed 2D and 3D CT scans
• Intraoperative ultrasounds
• MRIs
• Spectral imaging with CT scans

Surgical excellence

Our surgeons’ expertise has made Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute a major referral center for complex medical procedures. We are leaders in minimally invasive gallbladder surgery, performing a high volume of gallbladder removal procedures (cholecystectomies). Our surgeons pioneered the use of laparoscopic gallbladder techniques and were among the first to use robotic technologies to ease recovery.

Treatment with chemotherapy

Gallbladder cancer treatment often includes chemotherapy to shrink tumors before surgery or to reduce the risk of cancer recurring after surgery.

Pioneering radiation techniques

Our radiation oncologists use advanced therapies, many of which are not yet widely available, including:

• Intraoperative radiation therapy: Radiation delivered during surgery to treat remaining cancer cells.
• Proton beam therapy: A highly targeted form of radiation that uses proton particles instead of X-rays