[Has gallbladder cancer mortality decrease in Chile?].

Abstract

This paper analyses the information of the Ministry of Health on gallbladder cancer mortality in Chile since 1997. It becomes evident that the decrease in mortality in the last two years is only apparent and due to a statistical artifact, caused by the non validated application of the Tenth International Classification of Diseases. There is a consensus that one of the causes for an increase in gallbladder cancer in a specific country is a decrease in cholecystectomy rates. This association has been clearly demonstrated in Chile, but no control program for gallbladder cancer has been devised, considering that an early cholecystectomy is a good secondary prevention measure.