Cholecystectomy accompanying major abdominal surgery for gynecologic cancer

In a 66-month period 950 major abdominal operations were performed for known or suspected gynecologic malignancy. Thirty-five patients (3.6%), of whom 29 had proven gynecologic malignancy, underwent cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis known from prior evaluation or found incidentally during abdominal exploration. All cholecystectomies were performed through the original incision with no direct operative morbidity or mortality. Cholecystectomy accompanying gynecologic cancer surgery appears to be well tolerated if performed expeditiously, and avoids the potential of postoperative cholecystitis in this select group of patients.