Since gallbladder tumors often spread to adjoining liver tissue, surgical removal of the portion of the liver that overlies the gallbladder is crucial. Bile duct tumors. Bile duct tumors may be treated by bile duct resection and reconstruction, with or without partial removal of the liver. Bile duct resection and reconstruction is preferred for patients who have removable tumors but do not have advanced cirrhosis or primary sclerosing cholangitis. Resection is also feasible for small tumors limited to one lobe of the liver in the presence of mild cirrhosis.
Tumors can also spread to lymph nodes, adrenal glands, and lung, bone, and brain tissues.
Spread of the tumor cells beyond the liver renders any surgery much less useful.