Cancer mortality among patients undergoing cholecystectomy for benign biliary diseases

Potential risks of gastrointestinal cancers after cholecystectomy were examined among 1238 patients who had had their gallbladders extirpated for benign biliary diseases from 1951 to 1970. The observed deaths between 1953 and 1984 were compared with the expected values which were calculated from death rates in Japan. No appreciable excess mortality was found for stomach cancer, colorectal cancer or pancreas cancer in relation to cholecystectomy. Observed and expected deaths during the whole observation period were 29 vs. 31.58 for stomach cancer, 8 vs. 6.50 for colorectal cancer overall, 5 vs. 3.19 for colon cancer and 3 vs. 3.51 for pancreas cancer. The corresponding figures in the 10 years or more after cholecystectomy were 14 vs. 19.06 for stomach cancer, 5 vs. 4.66 for colorectal cancer and 3 vs. 2.38 for colon cancer. A notably increased mortality from liver cancer was observed, but it was considered to be related not to cholecystectomy itself but to blood transfusion.