Surgical indications and histopathologic results analysis of gallbladder polyps: A single-center experience

Abstract

Gallbladder polyps (GBP) are solid lesions originating from the gallbladder mucosa and extending into the gallbladder lumen. Preoperative diagnosis of GBP can be easily performed via USG; however, which patients should be followed up and which patients should be operated on is still a matter of discussion. This study aimed to investigate the histopathologic results and indications for surgery in patients diagnosed with GBP in the preoperative period and to present our clinical experience in light of current literature. Patients diagnosed with GBP and who had surgery in our general surgery clinic between July 2019 and July 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 57 patients were included in the study. The medical records, laboratory results, imaging results, and pathology reports of the patients were examined. The mean age of the patients was 47.1±11.7 years (23-78 years). The male/female ratio was 1.3/1. Polyp diameter was above 10 mm in 61.4% of patients and below 10 mm in 38.6%. The indication for surgery was the presence of coexisting cholelithiasis in 35.1% of the cases, symptomatic polyps in 33.3%, and increased polyp diameter in 21.1%. In histopathologic evaluation, cholesterol polyp was the most frequently encountered polyp (40.4%). The follow-up and treatment of GBP is still controversial. The most important factors to be considered in the surgical treatment of SCP are the polyp being over 10 mm and being symptomatic. In follow-up patients, further detailed clinical examination should be performed if necessary, and other imaging modalities should be preferred along with USG. Furthermore, it is required to establish up-to-date international algorithms for the follow-up and treatment of GBP.