title: Selective histopathology in cholecystectomy for gallstone disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incidental gallbladder cancer is found in upto 1% of cholecystectomy specimens for gallstone disease. Currently, in our institution, all gallbladder specimens are sent for routine histopathology, to rule out incidental gallbladder carcinoma. This study was aimed at assessing the need for routine histopathology of gallbladder specimens after cholecystectomy for gallstone disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital records of all patients undergoing cholecystectomy for gallstone disease over a ten-year period, between 1998 and 2007, in a single surgical unit were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1312 patients underwent cholecystectomy for gallstone disease. Gallbladder carcinoma was detected in 13 patients. Macroscopic abnormalities of the gallbladder were found in all the 13 patients. In patients with a macroscopically normal gallbladder, there were no cases of gallbladder carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gallbladder carcinoma is associated with macroscopic abnormalities in all cases. Therefore histopathology should be restricted to only those specimens which reveal a macroscopic abnormality. This would identify all cases of incidental gallbladder carcinoma, at the same time decreasing cost and pathological work load.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery Unit 5, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, 632 004, India. rohinmittal@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rohin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: Mark Ranjan
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jesudason
authors.forename: Sukria
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nayak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies