title: Can gallbladder polyps predict colorectal adenoma or even neoplasia? A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present systematic review is to identify whether an association between gallbladder polyps and colorectal adenoma or neoplasia exists.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a systematic review searching the Medline (1966-2016), Scopus (2004-2016), ClinicalTrials.gov (2008-2016) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL (1999-2016) databases together with reference lists from included studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  All prospective and retrospective observational cohort studies were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four studies were finally included which included 17,437 patients. The association between gallbladder polyps and colorectal adenoma or even neoplasia is not unanimously supported. However, a possible association is clearly depicted. According to one study it seems that this correlation seems to become significant only when the gallbladder polyps exceed the size of 5 mm. However, the impact of size of gallbladder polyps was not investigated in the remaining studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the results of our systematic review there is some evidence to support the hypothesis that gallbladder polyps might adequately predict future risk of colorectal neoplasia. At present, however, current knowledge is very limited and the available data scarce. In this context further studies are necessary to be carried out, before the presence of gallbladder polyps on ultrasound can be recommended as an indication to perform a screening colonoscopy on the same patient.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S.Christeas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece; Colorectal Department, General Surgery, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow, UK. Electronic address: kostergios@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stergios
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S.Christeas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece; Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, "Laiko" General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Damaskos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S.Christeas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maximos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frountzas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research N.S.Christeas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikiteas
authors.affiliation: Colorectal Department, General Surgery, The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow, UK.
authors.forename: Olutunde
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lalude
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011127:Polyps / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: Adenoma; Colorectal; Gallbladder; Neoplasia; Polyps