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. 2008 Sep 15:8:41.
doi: 10.1186/1471-230X-8-41.

Ultrasonographically detected gallbladder polyps: a reason for concern? A seven-year follow-up study

Wolfgang Kratzer  1 , Mark M Haenle, Andrea Voegtle, Richard A Mason, Atilla S Akinli, Klaus Hirschbuehl, Andreas Schuler, Volker Kaechele; Roemerstein Study Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Ultrasonographically detected gallbladder polyps: a reason for concern? A seven-year follow-up study

Wolfgang Kratzer et al. BMC Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background: The management of coincidental detected gallbladder polyps (GP) is still nebulous. There are few published data regarding their long-term growth. Objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and growth of gallbladder polyps in a survey of unselected subjects from the general population of a complete rural community.

Methods: A total of 2,415 subjects (1,261 women; 1,154 men) underwent ultrasound examination of the gallbladder, in November 1996 as part of a prospective study. Subjects in whom GP were detected at the initial survey underwent follow-up ultrasound examinations after 30 and 84 months.

Results: At the initial survey gallbladder polyps were detected in 34 subjects (1.4%; females: 1.1%, range 14 to 74 years; males: 1.7%, range 19 to 63 years). Median diameter was 5 +/- 2.1 mm (range 2 to 10 mm) at the initial survey, 5 mm +/- 2.8 mm (range 2 to 12 mm) at 30 months and 4 +/- 2.3 mm (range 2 to 9 mm) at 84 months. At the time of first follow-up no change in diameter was found in 81.0% (n = 17), reduction in diameter in 4.8% (n = 1) and increase in diameter in 14.3% (n = 3). At the time of second follow-up no increase in polyp diameter was found in 76.9% (n = 10) and reduction in diameter in 7.7% (n = 1). No evidence of malignant disease of the gallbladder was found.

Conclusion: Over a period of seven years little change was measured in the diameter of gallbladder polyps. There was no evidence of malignant disease of the gallbladder in any subject.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Gallbladder polyps: prevalence in percent (%) in relation to age and sex at the initial survey in 1996.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Initial study population in 1996 and results and ultrasound findings in 1999 and 2003.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Changes in gallbladder polyps (GP) between 1996 and 1999 and between 1996 and 2003.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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