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Review
. 2021 Jun 10;11(6):1073.
doi: 10.3390/diagnostics11061073.

Management of Porcelain Gallbladder, Its Risk Factors, and Complications: A Review

Masaya Morimoto  1 , Takahiro Matsuo  1 , Nobuyoshi Mori  1
Affiliations
Review

Management of Porcelain Gallbladder, Its Risk Factors, and Complications: A Review

Masaya Morimoto et al. Diagnostics (Basel). .

Abstract

The porcelain gallbladder condition describes gallbladder calcification. While gallbladder calcification is believed to increase the risk of developing gallbladder cancer, recent reports have shown that the malignancy risk is much lower than previously reported. Symptomatic patients with porcelain gallbladder should be recommended for cholecystectomy, but the management of asymptomatic patients is debatable. Based on recent evidence, prophylactic cholecystectomy is not routinely recommended in all patients with porcelain gallbladder. From the assessment of the current literature, there are three essential factors in the management of patients with porcelain gallbladder: (1) symptoms or complications of gallbladder disease, (2) calcification pattern and (3) patient age and comorbidities. Patients who do not undergo cholecystectomy should be educated about the symptoms of gallbladder diseases, and a thorough discussion is essential between patients and clinicians.

Keywords: cholecystectomy; cholelithiasis; gallbladder cancer; gallstone; porcelain gallbladder.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Management of porcelain gallbladder patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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