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. 2016 Oct 27;8(10):685-692.
doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v8.i10.685.

Incidental non-benign gallbladder histopathology after cholecystectomy in an United Kingdom population: Need for routine histological analysis?

Krashna Patel  1 , Khaled Dajani  1 , Satheesh Iype  1 , Nikolaos A Chatzizacharias  1 , Saranya Vickramarajah  1 , Prateush Singh  1 , Susan Davies  1 , Rebecca Brais  1 , Siong S Liau  1 , Simon Harper  1 , Asif Jah  1 , Raaj K Praseedom  1 , Emmanuel L Huguet  1
Affiliations

Incidental non-benign gallbladder histopathology after cholecystectomy in an United Kingdom population: Need for routine histological analysis?

Krashna Patel et al. World J Gastrointest Surg. .

Abstract

Aim: To analyse the range of histopathology detected in the largest published United Kingdom series of cholecystectomy specimens and to evaluate the rational for selective histopathological analysis.

Methods: Incidental gallbladder malignancy is rare in the United Kingdom with recent literature supporting selective histological assessment of gallbladders after routine cholecystectomy. All cholecystectomy gallbladder specimens examined by the histopathology department at our hospital during a five year period between March 2008 and March 2013 were retrospectively analysed. Further data was collected on all specimens demonstrating carcinoma, dysplasia and polypoid growths.

Results: The study included 4027 patients. The majority (97%) of specimens exhibited gallstone or cholecystitis related disease. Polyps were demonstrated in 44 (1.09%), the majority of which were cholesterol based (41/44). Dysplasia, ranging from low to multifocal high-grade was demonstrated in 55 (1.37%). Incidental primary gallbladder adenocarcinoma was detected in 6 specimens (0.15%, 5 female and 1 male), and a single gallbladder revealed carcinoma in situ (0.02%). This large single centre study demonstrated a full range of gallbladder disease from cholecystectomy specimens, including more than 1% neoplastic histology and two cases of macroscopically occult gallbladder malignancies.

Conclusion: Routine histological evaluation of all elective and emergency cholecystectomies is justified in a United Kingdom population as selective analysis has potential to miss potentially curable life threatening pathology.

Keywords: Carcinoma; Cholecystectomy; Gallbladder; Histopathology; Incidental.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Typical macroscopic and microscopic appearances of gallbladder cancer. 1: Cholesterol gallstones, impacted; 2: RA sinuses containing impacted stones; 3: Chronic cholecystitis; 4: Ruptured gallbladder carcinoma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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