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Incidental finding of gallbladder carcinoma
Daphna Weinstein1, Mehrdad Herbert, Noa Bendet
1Department of Surgery B, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
The Israel Medical Association Journal : IMAJ
|June 4, 2002
Summary
Gallbladder cancer is rare, found in 0.35% of cholecystectomies. This study found no common characteristics in patients with unexpected gallbladder carcinoma, highlighting its elusive nature.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Gallbladder carcinoma is an uncommon finding in cholecystectomy specimens, with reported incidences ranging from 0.3% to 1.5%.
- Early detection remains a challenge, often leading to incidental diagnosis during surgery for presumed benign conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the overall incidence of gallbladder carcinoma.
- To identify the rate of unexpected gallbladder carcinoma diagnosed post-cholecystectomy.
- To explore potential common characteristics of patients with incidentally discovered gallbladder cancer.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 1,697 consecutive cholecystectomies performed over a six-year period.
- Evaluation of patient demographics, symptoms, and pre-operative diagnoses.
- Pathological confirmation of gallbladder carcinoma in surgical specimens.
Main Results:
- Gallbladder carcinoma was diagnosed in 6 patients (0.35%) out of 1,697 cholecystectomies.
- The cancer was unsuspected prior to surgery in all diagnosed cases.
- The majority of affected patients were women (5/6), with a mean age of 70; cholelithiasis was a common comorbidity (5/6).
- Adenocarcinoma was the confirmed diagnosis in all cases.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of unsuspected gallbladder carcinoma in this series was 0.35%.
- No specific common characteristics were identified that distinguished patients with incidental gallbladder cancer from those with benign gallbladder disease.