title: Long-term follow up of gallbladder polyps.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Youp
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung Pil
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yoon Jae
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hong Jeoung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seung Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Si Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jae Bock
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Seungmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bang
mesh_terms: 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