[Polypoid lesions of the gallbladder--preventive cholecystectomy?]

During nine years (1979-1988) there was carried out cholecystectomy in 21 patients for gallbladder polyps of unknown histology. The sex ratio female to male was 9 to 12, median age 51 (29-76) years. Most of the polyps were smaller than 5 mm, all proved to be cholesterol polyps, showing multiple localisations. Two benign adenomas had a size of 6 resp. 9 mm. Among the polyps with a diameter of more than 10 mm we found only two cholesterol polyps, but one heterotopia, one adenoma and one adenocarcinoma. Cholecystectomy is indicated for polyps with a diameter of more than 10 mm or suspicious sonographic criteria, especially sessile lesions or concomittant thickening of the gallbladder wall.