title: Ultrasonographically detected gallbladder polyps: a reason for concern? A seven-year follow-up study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Innere Medizin, Klinik für Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Robert-Koch-Str, 8, 89081 Ulm, Germany. wolfgang.kratzer@uniklinik-ulm.de
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kratzer
authors.forename: Mark M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Haenle
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voegtle
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Atilla S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Akinli
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirschbuehl
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kaechele
mesh_terms: 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
references.citation: Arch Pathol. 1970 Nov;90(5):423-32
references.pmid: 4319984
references.citation: Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2006 Feb;8(1):38-45
references.pmid: 16510033
references.citation: Scand J Gastroenterol. 1994 May;29(5):480
references.pmid: 8036465
references.citation: Gastroenterology. 1962 Feb;42:144-7
references.pmid: 13889335
references.citation: Lancet. 1997 Mar 22;349(9055):817
references.pmid: 9121250
references.citation: Scand J Gastroenterol. 1990 Mar;25(3):281-6
references.pmid: 2320947
references.citation: Am J Surg. 1998 Feb;175(2):114-7
references.pmid: 9515526
references.citation: Br J Surg. 2000 Apr;87(4):414-7
references.pmid: 10759734
references.citation: World J Gastroenterol. 2005 Apr 14;11(14):2171-3
references.pmid: 15810087
references.citation: Am J Gastroenterol. 1997 Nov;92(11):2066-8
references.pmid: 9362194
references.citation: AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2007 Feb;188(2):495-501
references.pmid: 17242260
references.citation: J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005 May-Jun;39(5):401-12
references.pmid: 15815209
references.citation: Can J Gastroenterol. 2002 Mar;16(3):187-94
references.pmid: 11930198
references.citation: Am J Gastroenterol. 1999 Feb;94(2):446-50
references.pmid: 10022644
references.citation: Gut. 2000 Feb;46(2):250-4
references.pmid: 10644321
references.citation: Ann Surg. 2001 Nov;234(5):657-60
references.pmid: 11685029
references.citation: Am J Gastroenterol. 1992 May;87(5):630-3
references.pmid: 1595653
references.citation: Z Gastroenterol. 1999 Dec;37(12):1157-62
references.pmid: 10666839
references.citation: J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jun;23(6):965-9
references.pmid: 17725602
references.citation: Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1990 Feb 16;115(7):243-7
references.pmid: 2406119
references.citation: Gut. 1996 Dec;39(6):860-2
references.pmid: 9038670
references.citation: Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2001 Apr;11(2):88-91
references.pmid: 11330390
references.citation: J Ultrasound Med. 1998 Apr;17(4):207-11
references.pmid: 9544602
references.citation: Gut. 1997 Oct;41(4):578
references.pmid: 9391269
references.citation: Radiographics. 2002 Mar-Apr;22(2):387-413
references.pmid: 11896229
references.citation: Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1999 Oct;61(4):566-73
references.pmid: 10548290
references.citation: Scand J Gastroenterol. 1994 Jan;29(1):7-10
references.pmid: 8128179
references.citation: J Clin Ultrasound. 1999 Jan;27(1):1-7
references.pmid: 9888092