Benign and malignant lesions of the gall bladder

Abstract

Abstract Gall bladder cancer (GBC) is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract. Traditionally, it was regarded as a lethal tumour with a dismal prognosis. However, advancements in surgical techniques and perioperative care have improved the outcomes in the last two decades. While curative surgery remains the mainstay of therapy, several aspects of surgical management are still controversial. Gall bladder (GB) polyps are the most common benign GB lesions. While the majority of the polyps are benign, a small proportion are premalignant and early GBC may present as polypoidal lesions. The challenge is to differentiate a true polyp from a pseudopolyp and not miss an early GBC. This chapter aims to review the current surgical management of GB polyps and GBC with a particular focus on some of the debated aspects, including the extent of resection and lymphadenectomy, and management of incidental GBC.