Gallbladder Polyps Research Articles

Gallbladder polyps: the more cases we observe, the more questions we ask

Background. Gallbladder polyps have recently become more common in practice of general practitioners and gastroenterologists due to the improvement of instrumental imaging of the abdominal cavity.
 Aim of study: to analyze the dynamics of development of gallbladder polyps at an outpatient appointment of a general practitioner (gastroenterologist).
 Materials and methods. A prospective clinical five-year study of patients with gallbladder polyps was conducted. All patients underwent ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs (Voluson E10) once every six months during five years. Number and nature of the growth of polyps, size of the gallbladder, presence/absence of complaints, and burdened history of neoplastic diseases were evaluated in the dynamics of observation. Data obtained were subjected to standard statistical processing.
 Results. The study included 33 patients (14 men, 19 women aged 24–65 years, average age 45.19±1.73 yrs). In the initial ultrasound study, the number of visualized polyps varied from 1 to 5 (on average, 2.09±0.95), the size of the neoplasms ranged from 2 mm to 10 mm (on average, 5.75±1.10 mm). Burdened heredity in oncopathology was noted in 42.86% of men and 31.58% of women. Legless polyps were more often diagnosed in men (14.29%), while in women, polyps increased in size in the dynamics of observation >10 mm and a higher frequency of surgical interventions (cholecystectomy) were more often recorded.
 Conclusion. Gallbladder polyps tend to grow slowly. We outlined the questions facing the clinician in the management of patients with gallbladder polyps in terms of choosing the optimal tactic and surgical treatment due to the possible malignancy of these formations.

Intraperitoneal catheter introduction for pre-operative progressive pneumoperitoneum for abdominal hernia with loss of domain (Goni-Moreno technique).

Neoplastic gallbladder polyps (NGP) are rare; the prevalence in the overall population is less than 10%. NGP are associated with a risk of malignant degeneration and must be distinguished from other benign gallbladder polypoid lesions that occur more frequently. NGP are adenomas and the main risk associated with their management is to fail to detect their progression to gallbladder cancer, which is associated with a particular poor prognosis. The conclusions of the recent European recommendations have a low level of evidence, based essentially on retrospective small-volume studies. Abdominal sonography is the first line study for diagnosis and follow-up for NGP. To prevent the onset of gallbladder cancer, or treat malignant degeneration in its early phases, all NGP larger than 10 mm, or symptomatic, or larger than 6 mm with associated risk factors for cancer (age over 50, sessile polyp, Indian ethnicity, or patient with primary sclerosing cholangitis) are indications for cholecystectomy. Apart from these situations, simple sonographic surveillance is recommended for at least five years; if the NGP increases in size by more than 2 mm in size, cholecystectomy is indicated. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is possible but if the surgeon feels that the risk of intra-operative gallbladder perforation is high, conversion to laparotomy should be preferred to avoid potential intra-abdominal tumoral dissemination. When malignant NGP is suspected (size greater than 15 mm, signs of locoregional extension on imaging), a comprehensive imaging workup should be performed to search for liver extension: in this setting, radical surgery should be considered.

Incidence of cholelithiasis after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy

Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a well-known method for weight reduction. Post-operative weight loss is a major risk factor for gallstone formation. Objective: To determine whether prophylactic concomitant laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be performed on all patients at the time of laparoscopic sleeve gastrostomy or not. Patients and Methods: A retrospective and prospective study on 540 patients with morbid obesity who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy; their BMI range was between 38 and 53, their age range was 18 to 63 years, and 335 of them were females. The exclusion criteria were patients with a history of cholecystectomy, gallstone patients or gallbladder polyps more than 1 cm in preoperative abdominal ultrasound, and those who failed to follow-up. All patients were followed up with every 6–12 months, including those who had cholecystectomy by other surgeons. Results: During the study period, from the total 540 patients who had laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, 167 patients (30.92%) had cholecystectomy, out of which 20 patients (3.7%) had achieved 45% weight reduction during the first six months; while in another 6 months, 147 patients (27.22%) had cholecystectomy, achieving additional 30% weight reduction. Conclusions: The incidence of gallstones after laparoscopic sleeve gastrostomy is about 30.92%, indicating that 69.08% will not have gallstones in the postoperative follow-up period, so it would be unwise to do prophylactic concomitant cholecystectomy for all patients. Keywords: Bariatric procedures, cholecystectomy, incidence

The chronological change of indications and outcomes for single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a Korean multicenter study.

Although single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is a common procedure, the change in its surgical indications and perioperative outcomes has not been analyzed. We collected the clinical data of patients who underwent pure SILC in 9 centers between 2009 and 2018 and compared the perioperative outcomes. In this period, 6497 patients underwent SILC. Of these, 2583 were for gallbladder (GB) stone (39.7%), 774 were for GB polyp (11.9%), 994 were for chronic cholecystitis (15.3%), and 1492 were for acute cholecystitis (AC) (23%). 162 patients (2.5%) experienced complication, including 20 patients (0.2%) suffering from biliary leakage. The number of patients who underwent SILC for AC increased over time (p = 0.028), leading to an accumulation of experience (27.4 vs 23.7%, p = 0.002). The patients in late period were more likely to have undergone a previous laparotomy (29.5 vs 20.2%, p = 0.006), and to have a shorter operation time (47.0 vs 58.8min, p < 0.001). Male (odds ratio [OR]; 1.673, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.090-2.569, p = 0.019) and moderate or severe acute cholecystitis (OR; 2.602, 95% CI 1.677-4.037, p < 0.001) were independent predictive factors for gallbladder perforation during surgery, and open conversion (OR; 5.793, 95% CI 3.130-10.721, p < 0.001) and pathologically proven acute cholecystitis or empyema (OR; 4.107, 95% CI 2.461-6.854, p < 0.001) were related with intraoperative gallbladder perforation CONCLUSION: SILC has expanded indication in late period. In this period, the patients had shorter operation times and a similar rate of severe complications, despite there being more numerous patients with AC.

Association between the non-HDL-cholesterol-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio and the risk of gallbladder polyp formation among men: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundDyslipidaemia and male sex are associated with gallbladder polyp (GBP) formation. However, the potential relation between the non-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol-to-high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (non-HDL-c/HDL-c) ratio and GBPs in men is unclear.MethodsA total of 1866 eligible subjects were selected for this retrospective cohort study from Wuhan Union Hospital between April 1, 2013, and November 30, 2014. Clinical and laboratory data of subjects were collected. Patients with GBPs or cholecystectomy at baseline, with missing data for baseline lipid profiles, following abdominal ultrasonography or taking lipid-lowering drugs were excluded. The patients were divided into five groups based on their non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratios, and descriptive analyses of the baseline data were performed. A Cox proportional hazards model was applied to estimate the relationship between the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio and GBPs.ResultsAfter a median follow-up of 1 year, 7.34% (n = 137) of the subjects developed GBPs. Compared with subjects without GBPs, those who developed GBPs after follow-up had significantly higher triglyceride (TG) levels and non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratios. The prevalence of GBPs showed a linearity increment with age, peaked in the 30–39 years group, 40–49 years group and 50–59 years group, and then declined slightly. The results of univariate analysis showed that the non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05–1.60, P = 0.0159) was positively correlated with GBPs. In the fully adjusted Cox regression model, the HRs were 2.24 for quintile 2 (95% CI: 1.13–4.44, P = 0.0203), 1.50 for quintile 3 (95% CI: 0.73–3.10, P = 0.269), 2.52 for quintile 4 (95% CI: 1.26–5.01, P = 0.0087) and 2.13 for quintile 5 (95% CI: 1.04–4.37, P = 0.0397). No interaction was found among the subgroups.ConclusionsA higher non-HDL-c/HDL-c ratio is independently related to a higher risk of GBP formation in Chinese men. Further research is needed to investigate whether this association exists in different regions and races.

What is the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for the diagnosis of gallbladder polyps?

What is the accuracy of transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for the diagnosis of gallbladder polyps?

Analysis of risk factors for gallbladder polyp formation - A retrospective study based on serial ultrasounds.

To evaluate gallbladder polyp (GBP) formation related risk factors based on serial ultrasounds (US). Risk factors related GBP formation were retrospectively investigated among participants, who had US reexamination and interval >180 days in 5 years. After groups were divided based on US, we compared final data and initial data in GBP new incidence group. Then compared the data in GBP new incidence group and GBP(-) group. Overall 20 447 participants were recruited, including 18 243 in GBP (-) group and 2204 in GBP group. The mean diameters of polyps were 0.455 ± 0.198 mm in initial and 0.420 ± 0.180 mm in final examination. GBP new incidence group included 797 participants. Percentage of GBP new incidence participants was higher than GBP resolved (36.16% vs. 11.71%). Participants in middle age were more likely have GBP size increase or new incidence, and participants in old age (≥60 years old) were with GBP size decrease or resolved. In GBP new incidence group, participants in final US showed higher FBG, higher LDL, lower HDL, higher ALT and higher AST than initial US. Compared with GBP (-) group and, same risk factors, in addition with age, were shown in GBP new incidence group, Logistic regression analysis show that higher LDL, lower HDL and higher AST were risk factors for GBP formation. Participants in middle age were more likely to have GBP new incidence. Higher LDL, lower HDL and higher AST were independently risk factors for GBP formation.

The Clinical Application of a Self-developed Gasless Laparoendoscopic Operation Field Formation Device on Patients Undergoing Cholecystectomy.

We have designed a new gasless laparoscopic operation field formation (LOFF) device for cholecystectomy which was successfully tested on animal model. The goal of this study is to investigate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of this LOFF device on patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Patients with cholecystolithiasis or gallbladder polyps who underwent single port cholecystectomy from June 2015 to May 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Either the LOFF-assisted laparoendoscopic single-port surgery (LESS) (LOFF-LESS) or the traditional LESS was performed. Operation time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative hospital stay, surgical complications, incision pain score, shoulder and back pain and cosmetic satisfaction were compared. A total of 186 patients were included in this study, with 79 in the LOFF-LESS group and 107 in the LESS group. There was no significant difference between LOFF-LESS group and LESS group in operation field establishment time, cholecystectomy time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative hospital stay, incision pain and cosmetic satisfaction. A lower intraoperative arterial carbon dioxide pressure was documented in the LOFF-LESS group (P<0.01). The incidence of postoperative shoulder and back pain was significantly lower in LOFF-LESS group (P<0.01). LOFF-LESS has comparable benefits of traditional LESS; it deceases incidence of pneumoperitoneum related complications as well.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder polyp: looking for a clear indication and value

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder polyp: looking for a clear indication and value

The management of gallbladder polyps.

Neoplastic gallbladder polyps (NGP) are rare; the prevalence in the overall population is less than 10%. NGP are associated with a risk of malignant degeneration and must be distinguished from other benign gallbladder polypoid lesions that occur more frequently. NGP are adenomas and the main risk associated with their management is to fail to detect their progression to gallbladder cancer, which is associated with a particular poor prognosis. The conclusions of the recent European recommendations have a low level of evidence, based essentially on retrospective small-volume studies. Abdominal sonography is the first line study for diagnosis and follow-up for NGP. To prevent the onset of gallbladder cancer, or treat malignant degeneration in its early phases, all NGP larger than 10mm, or symptomatic, or larger than 6mm with associated risk factors for cancer (age over 50, sessile polyp, Indian ethnicity, or patient with primary sclerosing cholangitis) are indications for cholecystectomy. Apart from these situations, simple sonographic surveillance is recommended for at least five years; if the NGP increases in size by more than 2mm in size, cholecystectomy is indicated. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is possible but if the surgeon feels that the risk of intra-operative gallbladder perforation is high, conversion to laparotomy should be preferred to avoid potential intra-abdominal tumoral dissemination. When malignant NGP is suspected (size greater than 15mm, signs of locoregional extension on imaging), a comprehensive imaging workup should be performed to search for liver extension: in this setting, radical surgery should be considered.

Outcomes of Gallbladder Polyps and Their Association With Gallbladder Cancer in a 20-Year Cohort

Gallbladder polyps (GP) are found in more than 4% of adult abdominal ultrasonographs. Their growth pattern and association with gallbladder cancer (GBC) are poorly defined. To determine the growth pattern of GPs and their association with GBC. This cohort study included 622 227 adult members (ie, aged 18 years or older) of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated health care delivery system, enrolled between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2014. The GBC cohort comprised a total of 365 adults with GBC and prior ultrasonography, and the GP cohort comprised 35 970 adults with GPs present on ultrasonography. Data analysis was performed from March 2016 to November 2019. Gallbladder polyps (quantitative size, <6 mm, 6 to <10 mm, and ≥10 mm or qualitative size [ie, tiny, small, moderate, and large]). For the GBC cohort, proportion of patients with GBC with polyps identified on preceding ultrasonograph. For the GP cohort, rates of GBC among those with polyps according to size and rate of GP growth of at least 2 mm over time. The GBC cohort comprised 365 individuals (267 [73.1%] women; 173 [47.4%] white patients; median [interquartile range] age, 71 [61-79] years). After excluding 14 patients who did not have evaluation of polyp size, the final GP cohort comprised 35 856 adults, with 18 645 (52.0%) women, a median (interquartile range) age 50 (40-60) years, and 15 573 (43.3%) white patients. Gallbladder polyps were found in 22 patients (6.0%) in the GBC cohort and in 35 870 of 622 227 adults (5.8%) who underwent abdominal ultrasonography. Of these, 19 (0.053%) were diagnosed with GBC, similar to those without GP (316 of 586 357 [0.054%]). The unadjusted GBC rate per 100 000 person-years was 11.3 (95% CI, 6.2-16.3) overall and increased with polyp size, from 1.3 (95% CI, 0-4.0) with initial size of less than 6 mm (n = 17 531) to 128.2 (95% CI, 39.4-217.0) with initial size of 10 mm or larger (n = 2055). In those observed for at least 1 year, the rate was 3.6 (95% CI, 0.7-6.5) per 100 000 person-years. In 6359 patients with evaluable follow-up, unadjusted cumulative probabilities of polyp growth of at least 2 mm at 10 years were 66.2% (95% CI, 62.3%-70.0%) in polyps initially less than 6 mm and 52.9% (95% CI, 47.1%-59.0%) in polyps initially 6 mm to less than 10 mm. In this study, GBC rates were low and similar among patients with and without GPs. Growth of 2 mm or more appeared to be part of GP natural history. The results call into question the strategy of proactively following GP to detect GBC.

Gallbladder polyps: evolving approach to the diagnosis and management.

Gallbladder (GB) polyp is a mucosal projection into the GB lumen. With increasing health awareness, GB polyps are frequently found using ultrasonography during health screening. The prevalence of GB polyps ranges between 1.3% and 9.5%. Most patients are asymptomatic and have benign characteristics. Of the nonneoplastic polyps, cholesterol polyps are most common, accounting for 60%–70% of lesions. However, a few polyps have malignant potential. Currently, the guidelines recommend laparoscopic cholecystectomy for polyps larger than 1 cm in diameter due to their malignant potential. The treatment algorithm can be influenced by the size, shape, and numbers of polyps, old age (>50 years), the presence of primary sclerosing cholangitis, and gallstones. This review summarizes the commonly recognized concepts on GB polyps from diagnosis to an algorithm of treatment.

Pyloric gland adenoma of gallbladder with squamoid morules in pediatric age

7 year old symptomatic girl was diagnosed with gall bladder polyp on ultrasonography and MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed and patient was discharged on 2 post operative day without any complications. Histopathology and Immunohistochemistry revealed pyloric gland adenoma with squamoid morules.Gall bladder polyps are seen in 5% of the adult population around the world but rarely seen in children. Polyps have the potential to convert into malignancy and hence early diagnosis and differentiation is necessary.Most of the patients with gall bladder adenomas are adult females. Majority of the adenomas (91%) are single. Squamoid morules was found in 28% and columnar oxyphil cells in 2% of these adenomas. High-grade dysplasia/carcinoma in situ was seen in 27% of them and low-grade dysplasia in 15%. However, only 1% invasive adenocarcinomas were diagnosed in pyloric gland adenomas, both of which were intestinal type. For symptomatic patients who have pain and dyspepsia, cholecystectomy is the recommended treatment. For asymptomatic or incidentally detected patients, the indications for cholecystectomy should be age more than 50 years, solitary polyp greater than 10mm in largest dimension, accompanying gall stones and increase in size on serial sonographies.As per our knowledge the case we report is the first case of gallbladder pyloric adenoma with squamoid morules in pediatric age group. Treatment with simple cholecystectomy is recommended in view of literature suggesting pre malignant lesion.

Gallbladder Cancer: Imaging Appearance and Pitfalls in Diagnosis [Formula: see text

Gallbladder cancer is an uncommon malignancy with an overall poor prognosis. The clinical and imaging presentation of gallbladder cancer often overlaps with benign disease, making diagnosis difficult. Gallbladder cancer is most easily diagnosed on imaging when it presents as a mass replacing the gallbladder. At this stage, the prognosis is usually poor. Recognizing the features of gallbladder cancer early in the disease can enable complete resection and improve prognosis. Recognition of the patterns of wall enhancement on computed tomography can help differentiate gallbladder cancer from benign disease. Gallbladder wall thickening without pericholecystic fluid presenting in an older patient with raised alkaline phosphatase should raise concern regarding gallbladder cancer. Gallbladder polyps in high-risk individuals need close surveillance or surgery as per guidelines. Small gallbladder cancers in the neck can present as biliary dilatation or cholecystitis, and careful examination of this area is needed to assess for lesion. The imaging appearance of gallbladder cancer is reviewed and supported by local institutional data. Features that differentiate it from its common mimics enabling earlier diagnosis are described.

Feasibility of Voltage-Applied SERS Measurement of Bile Juice as an Effective Analytical Scheme to Enhance Discrimination between Gall Bladder (GB) Polyp and GB Cancer.

A unique surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurement scheme to discriminate gall bladder (GB) polyp and GB cancer by analysis of bile juice is proposed. Along with the high sensitivity of SERS, external voltage application during SERS measurement was incorporated to improve sample discriminability. For this purpose, Au nanodendrites were constructed on a screen-printed electrode (referred to as AuND@SPE), and Raman spectra of extracted aqueous phases from raw bile juice samples were acquired using the AuND@SPE at voltages from -300 to 300 mV. The sample spectra resembled that of bilirubin, possessing an open chain tetrapyrrole, showing that bilirubin derivatives in bile juice were mainly responsible for the observed peaks. Discrimination of GB polyp and GB cancer using just the normal SERS spectra was not achieved but became apparent when the spectra were acquired at a voltage of -100 mV. When voltage-applied SERS spectra of bilirubin and urobilinogen (one of bilirubin's derivatives) were examined, a sudden intensity elevation occurring at -100 mV was observed for urobilinogen but not bilirubin. Based on examination of corresponding cyclic voltammograms, the potential-driven strong adsorption of urobilinogen (no faradaic charge transfer) on AuND occurring at -100 mV induced a substantial increase in SERS intensity. It was presumed that the content of urobilinogen in the bile juice of a GB cancer patient would be higher than that of a GB polyp patient, and the contained urobilinogen was sensitively highlighted by applying -100 mV during SERS measurement, allowing clear discrimination of GB cancer against GB polyp.

Deep learning-based decision support system for the diagnosis of neoplastic gallbladder polyps on ultrasonography: Preliminary results

Ultrasonography (US) has been considered image of choice for gallbladder (GB) polyp, however, it had limitations in differentiating between nonneoplastic polyps and neoplastic polyps. We developed and investigated the usefulness of a deep learning-based decision support system (DL-DSS) for the differential diagnosis of GB polyps on US. We retrospectively collected 535 patients, and they were divided into the development dataset (n = 437) and test dataset (n = 98). The binary classification convolutional neural network model was developed by transfer learning. Using the test dataset, three radiologists with different experience levels retrospectively graded the possibility of a neoplastic polyp using a 5-point confidence scale. The reviewers were requested to re-evaluate their grades using the DL-DSS assistant. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of three reviewers were 0.94, 0.78, and 0.87. The DL-DSS alone showed an AUC of 0.92. With the DL-DSS assistant, the AUCs of the reviewer’s improved to 0.95, 0.91, and 0.91. Also, the specificity of the reviewers was improved (65.1–85.7 to 71.4–93.7). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) improved from 0.87 to 0.93. In conclusion, DL-DSS could be used as an assistant tool to decrease the gap between reviewers and to reduce the false positive rate.

Differential diagnosis of focal gallbladder lesions: The added value of contrast enhanced ultrasound with liner transducers.

To evaluate the benefits of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with high frequency transducers in characterization of focal gallbladder lesions (FGL). From January 2017 to April 2019, 59 FGL detected by B mode ultrasound (BMUS) were examined, first with the low frequency convex transducer (1-5 MHz) and afterwards with high frequency transducer (7.5-12 MHz). High frequency dynamic CEUS were applied after bolus injection of 4.8 ml Sulphur hexafluoride microbubbles (SonoVue®, Milan). The BMUS and CEUS imaging features were recorded and compared. All lesions were confirmed by surgical resection and histopathologic results. The final diagnoses of 59 FGL included gallbladder adenocarcinoma (n = 15), gallbladder polyps (n = 11), gallbladder adenomas (n = 18), focal adenomyomatosis (n = 9), and gallbladder Ascariasis debris (n = 6). The mean diameter of FGL was 24.5±11.4 mm, and mean depth to the abdominal wall was 21.2±7.3 mm. While applying CEUS with high frequency transducer, specific diagnostic features, including arterial phase irregular intralesional vascularity (10/15, 66.7%), late phase hypoenhancement (12/15, 80%), destruction of gallbladder wall (8/15, 53.3%), infiltration to the adjacent liver (6/15, 40.0%) were significantly higher in malignant FGL. The overall sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy for the correct characterization of malignant FGL were significantly improved by CEUS with high frequency transducer (sensitivity 93.3%, specificity 88.5%, accuracy 100%). With its superior contrast resolution, CEUS performed with high frequency transducers is helpful to achieve better visualization of gallbladder fundus and make differential diagnosis of gallbladder lesions, which might greatly improve diagnostic confidence between malignant and benign FGL.

Optimization of diagnostic ultrasonography of the gallbladder based on own experience and literature.

Although transabdominal imaging of the gallbladder has become a gold standard, new light should be shed on some aspects, which will prove useful in everyday practice. Therefore, based on our own experience and the available literature, we would like to draw attention to those elements of gallbladder ultrasound imaging which may increase its diagnostic efficacy. The paper draws attention to the difficulty in assessing certain anatomical structures, such as the inferior wall, the bottom and the region of the neck of the gallbladder, and offers ways to improve their imaging. We also emphasized the negative effects of duodenal and transverse colon (along with their contents) adhesion to the bottom of the gallbladder on the correct diagnosis. Due to the importance of size in the management strategy for detected gallbladder polyps, we suggest their measurement on an image enlarged with the zoom function. This technique also allows for an accurate assessment of the shape and echostructure of these lesions. An enlarged image of a polyp makes it possible to trace its behavior in time. We also remind that the hepatic wall of the gallbladder is the only site allowing for a reliable wall thickness measurement. We also pointed to the importance of changing patient’s position when assessing the mobility and the nature of lesions. Altering patient’s position during examination may help detect anomalies in the form of a floating gallbladder, which may promote its torsion. Finally, pathologies whose diagnosis may be facilitated by color-coded blood flow imaging are also presented. The issues discussed in this paper are only a fraction of problems faced by an ultrasound operator in the field of gallbladder diagnostic imaging. However, the proposed ultrasound approaches should help solve some of these problems in everyday practice.

Utility of radiomics based on contrast-enhanced CT and clinical data in the differentiation of benign and malignant gallbladder polypoid lesions.

To develop and validate a novel method based on radiomics for the preoperative differentiation of benign and malignant gallbladder polypoid lesions (PLG). A total of 145 patients with pathological proven gallbladder polypoid lesions ≥ 1cm were included in this retrospective study. All the patients underwent abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) examinations 3weeks before cholecystectomy from January 2013 to January 2019. Seventy percent of the cases were randomly selected for the training dataset, and 30% of the cases were independently used for testing. Radiomics features extracted from portal venous-phase CT of the PLG and clinical features were analyzed, and the LASSO regression algorithm was used for data dimension reduction. Multivariable logistic regression was used to generate radiomics signatures, clinical signatures, and combination signatures. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and decision curve were plotted to assess the differentiating performance of the three signatures. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the radiomics signature and clinical signature was 0.924 and 0.861 in the testing dataset, respectively. For the radiomics signature, the accuracy was 88.6%, with 88.0% specificity and 89.5% sensitivity. When combined, the AUC was 0.931, the specificity was 84.0%, and the sensitivity was 89.5%. The differences between the AUC values of the two sole models and the combination model were statistically nonsignificant. Radiomics based on CT images can be helpful to differentiate benign and malignant gallbladder polyps ≥ 1cm in size.

Vascular evaluation using transabdominal ultrasound for gallbladder polyps.

Ultrasound (US) is a cost-effective and noninvasive procedure without radiation exposure, with real-time evaluation and high spatial resolution. Although it is useful for the detection of gallbladder (GB) polyps, including gallbladder cancer, adenoma, and benign polyps, conventional US is insufficient for differential diagnosis because it is not capable of evaluating hemodynamic information, unlike computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. With recent technological advances in US equipment and contrast agents, Doppler imaging and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) are being used to characterize GB polyps, and several reports on evaluation of the vascularity of GB polyp have been published. In this review, we aimed to report the latest developments in the hemodynamic diagnosis of GB polyps based on previous reports, with an emphasis on CEUS, and to evaluate the efficacy for differential diagnosis. The information in this article is expected to enable early diagnosis and prompt surgical treatment for gallbladder cancer.