Abstract

HOYOS, Sergio Iván  and  SIERRA, Elsy Cristina. Gallbladder polyps. rev. colomb. cir. [online]. 2010, vol.25, n.1, pp.37-41. ISSN 2011-7582.

Gallbladder polyp refers to any protruding lesion of the mucosal surface of the gallbladder wall. The term polyp encompasses a heterogeneous group of abnormalities, including true polyps (polypoid tumours) and pseudopolyps, which may be either inflammatory polyps or cholesterol polyps. Unlike true polyps, pseudopolyps have no malignant potential. The most common (>70%) type of polyp is the cholesterol polyp; usually it is a small polyp (<10mm), pedunculated, multiple, with a higher echogenicity than the liver parenchyma. Neoplastic polyp frequently has an enlarged size (>1cm), is solitary, sessile and isoechogenic with the liver parenchyma. The management of polypoid lesions of the gallbladder is still controversial. Different studies have shown that polypoid lesions larger than 1cm should be treated with cholecystectomy, because of their high potential of malignancy. Cholecystectomy has also been shown to bring about symptomatic relief. On the contrary, natural history of small gallbladder polyps, symptomatic and complicating absent factors, has proven to be benign, thus suggesting that cholecystectomy is not indicated and a “watch and wait” strategy based on repeated ultrasound and medical examinations should be implemented.

Keywords : Gallbladder; Gallbladder Neoplasms; Cholesterol; Cholecystectomy; polyps.

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