Long-term follow up of gallbladder polyps.
OBJECTIVE
The management of gallbladder polyps (GBP) is directly linked to the early diagnosis of gallbladder cancer (GBC). This study aimed to evaluate the malignant risk of GBP.


METHODS
In total, 1558 patients diagnosed with GBP were followed. Neoplastic polyps were defined as GBC and its premalignant lesions. The risk for malignancy was estimated with the cumulative detection rate of neoplastic polyps.


RESULTS
Thirty-three cases (2.1%) were diagnosed with neoplastic polyps. The cumulative detection rates of neoplastic polyps were 1.7% at 1 year, 2.8% at 5 years, and 4% at 8 years after diagnosis. The size of GBP and the presence of gallstones were risk factors for neoplastic polyps. Polyps > or = 10 mm had a 24.2 times greater risk of malignancy than polyps < 10 mm. However, 15 of 33 neoplastic polyps (45.5%) were < 10 mm at the time of diagnosis of GBP. During follow up in 36 (3.5%) of 1027 cases, an increase in size was detected; of these, nine (25%) had neoplastic polyps.


CONCLUSIONS
Even small polyps have a risk of malignancy, and careful long-term follow up of GBP will help detect and treat early GBC.
Park
Jeong Youp
JY
Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
Hong
Sung Pil
SP
Kim
Yoon Jae
YJ
Kim
Hong Jeoung
HJ
Kim
Hee Man
HM
Cho
Jae Hee
JH
Park
Seung Woo
SW
Song
Si Young
SY
Chung
Jae Bock
JB
Bang
Seungmin
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000473:pathology*; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D042882:Gallstones / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011127:Polyps / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult