Incidental gallbladder cancer: a retrospective clinical study of 40 cases

Abstract

Purpose Cholecystectomy is one of the most common surgeries today due to gallbladder diseases. The most prevalent malignancy of the biliary tract is gallbladder cancer. We aimed to discuss the results of our patients who underwent cholecystectomy for benign reasons in our clinic and who had gallbladder cancer due to pathology. Methods The results of cholecystectomy performed in General Surgery Clinic of Seyhan Government Hospital were evaluated. Cases diagnosed as gallbladder as a result of histopathological examination were included. Preoperative ultrasonography, laboratory findings, and postoperative pathology results of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. The pathologist repeated histopathological evaluations. Results Between 2010 and 2019, incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) was detected in 40 patients (0.3%) in 11,680 cholecystectomy operations. Of the patients diagnosed with IGBC, 14 (35.0%) were T1a, 11 (27.5%) were T1b, 11 (27.5%) were T2, and 4 (10.0%) were T3. T4 tumor was not seen in any patient. Three patients who were T1b at initial evaluation were identified as T2 at evaluation for the study. The pathology results of 37 patients (92.5%) were adenocarcinoma, 2 (5.0%) were adenosquamous type, and 1 (0.5%) was squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusion There has been a remarkable increase in the number of IGBCs over the past 20 years. Appropriate staging and histopathological evaluation are essential in guiding the surgeon’s operation. It is crucial to accurately determine the T stage, the most influential parameter on patient survival and residual recurrences. The distinction between pathologic (p) T1a and pT1b should be made carefully. Surgery is the only potentially curative method.

Development and validation of an online dynamic prognostic nomogram for incidental gallbladder adenocarcinoma patients without distant metastasis after surgery: a population-based study

“…Since the spring-up of laparoscopic surgery, gallbladder cancers have been spotted earlier in some patients, contributing to a higher chance of survival (25). Altiok et al observed a phenomenal growth in the number of incidental gallbladder cancers after cholecystectomy operations over the past 20 years, of whom 90% were T1a, T1b, and T2, and 92.5% were adenocarcinoma (26). Furthermore, surgery is the only potential way for patients with gallbladder cancer to be cured and to survive for a long time (8,27).…”

"Unexpected gallbladder cancer" -- was it really an accident?

“…In our study, 6 patients (35.29%) had reached Tis/T1 stage, and 11 patients were (64.71%) T2, T3, and T4, respectively. At the same time, we collected data from other countries and regions and placed them in Table 4 [7,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17] . Worldwide, a total of 373 patients with uGBC were identi ed, including 121 patients (32.44%) with Tis/T1 stage and 252 patients (67.56%) with T2, T3, and T4 stages.…”