Genetic analysis of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis: precancerous lesion of gallbladder cancer?

Abstract

Xanthogranulomatous Cholecystitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gallbladder, a variant of the chronic cholecystitis. As xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is occasionally seen with carcinoma of the gallbladder, the association with cancer is a controversial issue. A focal type of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis is found simultaneously with gastric cancer diagnosed preoperatively. The resected specimen was genetically studied. Polymerase chain reaction amplification, single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis for mutation of p53 showed no abnormality indicating that less association with cancer in which the mutation of p53 is often seen. Etiopathologic factors of xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis might have relation with cancer, but xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis itself may not be the direct cause for cancer.