title: [Gallbladder polyps and gallbladder stones].
abstract: Over a period of 32 years 689 patients with upper abdominal symptoms were examined radiologically at least twice for gall-bladder polyps and stones. All were without evidence of stones initially, but 181 had gall-bladder polyps on first examination. During a mean observation period of 9 1/2 years gall-bladder stones occurred in 18% (pigment stones in about 24%, solitary cholesterol stones in 30% and multiple ones in 46%), regardless of the presence or absence of gall-bladder polyps. There was no evidence for a change from polyps to stones. Cholesterolosis runs through four stages in the course of decades; accumulation of cholesterol esters in subepithelial foam-cell nests is characteristic. 95% of gall-bladder polyps are cholesterol polyps which gradually empty. Prophylactic cholecystectomy for gall-bladder polyps is justified only if they are more than 10 mm in diameter.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolpers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D002765:Cholecystography; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003460:Crystallization; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol
vernacular_title: Gallenblasenpolypen und Gallenblasensteine.