A 60-year-old male with a history of gallstones presents with right upper quadrant pain, weight loss, and a new onset of diabetes. He appears jaundiced. What is the potential diagnosis, and what are the next steps?
This patient's symptoms raise concern for gallbladder cancer, a rare but serious condition that can be associated with a history of gallstones. Cancer can cause local symptoms (pain, jaundice) and systemic symptoms (weight loss, new-onset diabetes). The next step is to obtain an abdominal ultrasound. If the ultrasound is concerning for malignancy, further imaging such as a CT scan or MRI may be necessary. Depending on the findings, the patient may require surgical intervention and possibly other treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.