The predictive score performed well and could not be improved. This provides opportunities for individualizing patient consent and selection, and treatment and research applications.

AIMTo 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.METHODSIncidental 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.RESULTSThe 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.CONCLUSIONRoutine 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.

INTRODUCTION Colorectal cancer in patients younger than 50 years of age is increasing steadily in the UK with limited guidelines available indicating need for secondary care referral. The aims of this study were to report the cancer incidence in those aged under 50 years referred to secondary care with suspected colorectal malignancy and also to analyse the quality of those referrals. METHODS A total of 197 primary care referrals made between 2008 and 2014 to a UK district general hospital for suspected colorectal malignancy were analysed. All confirmed cancers were further evaluated regarding presenting symptoms, tumour characteristics and clinical outcomes. Each referral was given a referral performance score (out of 9) dependant on relevant information documented. RESULTS The overall malignancy rate was 9.1% (11 male and 7 female patients). The median age in this cohort was 41.5 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 37-49 years). Abdominal pain was the only presenting symptom to differ significantly when comparing malignant with non-malignant patients (44.4% vs 21.8% respectively, p=0.042). The median time period between referral date and colorectal specialist consultation was 11 days (IQR: 7-13 days) and the median referral performance score was 5 (range: 3-9). CONCLUSIONS Malignancy is prevalent in patients under 50 years of age who are referred to secondary care for suspected colorectal cancer. Those referred with abdominal pain in the presence of other high risk lower gastrointestinal symptoms are at significant risk of having a malignancy. Major deficiencies are apparent in urgent primary care referrals, highlighting the need for further national guidance to aid early diagnosis of colorectal cancer in the young.

Background: Gallbladder polyp (GBP) surveillance seeks to identify early neoplasms, but practice varies amongst surgical units. Recent European consensus guidelines have recommended an evidencebased GBP surveillance strategy. In a tertiary centre Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary unit we examine GBP surveillance, malignant yield, and assess cost-effectiveness of the new European consensus guidelines.Methods: Respective data were collected from all patients with ultrasonography-detected GBPs between January 2008 and January 2013.Results: 558 patients had GBPs detected on ultrasonography. Following initial ultrasonography, 304 (54.5%) had further ultrasonography surveillance of which 168 were in a formal GBP surveillance programme. Pre-malignant/malignant pathology yield was 1.97% with an annual detection rate of 12.0 cases per 1000 GBPs surveyed. Cost-effectiveness analysis of European consensus guidelines calculated annual savings of £209 163 per 1000 GBPs surveyed. Compliance with these guidelines would result in an additional 12.5% of patients under surveillance requiring cholecystectomy. Conclusion:GBP surveillance uptake was suboptimal at 32.8%. The incidence of pre-malignant/ malignant lesions in GBPs emphasises the importance of surveillance for early detection and management with a view to avoiding the poor outcomes associated with more advanced gallbladder cancer.Adherence to the new European consensus guidelines would be clinically cost-effective with significant potential savings demonstrated in this study.

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