[Polypoid lesions of the gallbladder. Clinical and pathological correlations]

Fourty patients (21 males, 19 females; mean age 43.95 +/- 11.58 years) had polypoid lesions of the gallbladder, which were confirmed surgically and pathologically. The incidence of the disease was 15.8% in patients undergoing cholecystectomy and 1.4% in patients having ultrasonography. In the 40 patients, 23 (57.5%) had cholesterol polyps, 5 (12.5%) inflammatory polyps, 4 (10%) adenocarcinomas, 3 (7.5%) xanthomatous polyps, 2 (5%) papillary adenomas, 1 mixed polyp, 1 neurofibroma, and 1 adenomatoid proliferative polyp. The mean age of patients with nontumorous polyp was 41.27 +/- 10.16 years. In these patients, 78.8% had polyps less than 5 mm in diameter, and 69.7% had multiple lesions. However, the mean age of patients with tumorous polyp was 56.71 +/- 9.79 years and 71.4% of the patients had polyps more than 5 mm in diameter and 85.7% single lesions. 72.5% of the patients had clinical symptoms. Polyps were detected ultrasonographically, but one third of them were overlooked by either cholecystography or CT. Nomenclature, pathological classification and management of the lesions are discussed.