What are the key clinical features that may suggest gallbladder cancer in a patient presenting with biliary symptoms?

Key clinical features that may suggest gallbladder cancer in a patient presenting with biliary symptoms include the presence of an upper abdominal mass consistent with an enlarged gallbladder, which should prompt urgent direct access to an ultrasound scan within 2 weeks ¹. Patients may also present with biliary colic-like pain, jaundice, weight loss, and signs of biliary obstruction. Persistent or unexplained upper abdominal pain, especially when accompanied by systemic features such as weight loss or jaundice, raises suspicion for malignancy including gallbladder cancer ¹. Additionally, literature highlights that gallbladder cancer often presents late with nonspecific symptoms such as abdominal pain, jaundice, and sometimes a palpable mass, reflecting advanced disease (Katabi, 2010). The combination of clinical features of biliary obstruction (e.g., jaundice), constitutional symptoms (weight loss), and imaging findings of an enlarged gallbladder or mass should heighten clinical suspicion and prompt urgent investigation ¹ (Katabi, 2010).