Differentiation of "Polyp" and "Pseudo Polyp" in Gallbladder Polyps, Single-center Experience

The prevalence of gallbladder polyps is 0.3% to 9.5%. Gallbladder polyps are divided into polyps and pseudo polyps. We aim to determine the rate of polyps after histopathologic examination in patients who were operated on for gallbladder polyps and to choose the factors affecting the diagnosis of polyps.

Patients who underwent cholecystectomy between January 2012 and January 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic data of the patients, anthropometric measurements, preoperative radiologic imaging methods, characteristics (size and number of polyps), and histopathologic results of the gallbladder after cholecystectomy were recorded. After histopathologic examination, the patients were grouped as gallbladder polyp and pseudo polyp and compared.

A total of 162 (4.7%) patients were included in the study. 109 (67.3%) of the patients were in the polyp group, and 53 (32.7%) were in the pseudo polyp group. Polyp size and number were larger in the polyp group than in the pseudo polyp group and were odd in number ( P = 0.03, P < 0.001). The radiologic polyp size cut-off value to identify the polyp was >8 mm (sensitivity: 84.2%, specificity: 66.0%).

Gallbladder polyps are a common pathology. The distinction between true and pseudo polyp is critical. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish between polyps and pseudo polyps for cholecystectomy.