Ultrasonographically detected gallbladder polyps: a reason for concern? A seven-year follow-up study.
BACKGROUND
The management of coincidental detected gallbladder polyps (GP) is still nebulous. There are few published data regarding their long-term growth. Objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and growth of gallbladder polyps in a survey of unselected subjects from the general population of a complete rural community.


METHODS
A total of 2,415 subjects (1,261 women; 1,154 men) underwent ultrasound examination of the gallbladder, in November 1996 as part of a prospective study. Subjects in whom GP were detected at the initial survey underwent follow-up ultrasound examinations after 30 and 84 months.


RESULTS
At the initial survey gallbladder polyps were detected in 34 subjects (1.4%; females: 1.1%, range 14 to 74 years; males: 1.7%, range 19 to 63 years). Median diameter was 5 +/- 2.1 mm (range 2 to 10 mm) at the initial survey, 5 mm +/- 2.8 mm (range 2 to 12 mm) at 30 months and 4 +/- 2.3 mm (range 2 to 9 mm) at 84 months. At the time of first follow-up no change in diameter was found in 81.0% (n = 17), reduction in diameter in 4.8% (n = 1) and increase in diameter in 14.3% (n = 3). At the time of second follow-up no increase in polyp diameter was found in 76.9% (n = 10) and reduction in diameter in 7.7% (n = 1). No evidence of malignant disease of the gallbladder was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Over a period of seven years little change was measured in the diameter of gallbladder polyps. There was no evidence of malignant disease of the gallbladder in any subject.
Kratzer
Wolfgang
W
Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Klinik für Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Robert-Koch-Str, 8, 89081 Ulm, Germany. wolfgang.kratzer@uniklinik-ulm.de
Haenle
Mark M
MM
Voegtle
Andrea
A
Mason
Richard A
RA
Akinli
Atilla S
AS
Hirschbuehl
Klaus
K
Schuler
Andreas
A
Kaechele
Volker
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile; D003625:Data Collection; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007564:Japan; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011127:Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States
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