Preneoplastic lesions and gallbladder cancer: an estimate of the period required for progression

Scarce biological information exists about the importance of preneoplastic lesions in gallbladder cancer. The aim of this study was to estimate the time required for the sequence of dysplasia (DY) to carcinoma of the gallbladder.

Eighty-four cases of DY, 60 cases of early carcinomas (ECs), 181 cases of advanced carcinomas (ACs), and 121 cases of metastatic (ME) gallbladder cancer were analyzed. Age was used as the main parameter. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis.

Among all cases, the mean age of female patients was lower than the mean age of male patients (P = 0.001). A significant difference in mean age between sexes by specific type of lesion was also observed (P < 0.001). The mean age was 46.3 years (SD, 16) in the DY group, 57.5 years (SD, 16.7) in the EC group, 59 (SD, 13.7) in the AC group, and 61.1 (SD, 12.1) in the ME group. Multiple regression analysis showed statistically significant differences (r = 0.386; P < 0.001) in the mean age of patients with dysplastic lesions compared with the carcinoma group.

According to these observations, the period required to progress from dysplasia to advanced gallbladder carcinoma would be around 15 years, observing a continuum in the progression of the lesions.