Diagnosis of incidental gallbladder cancer after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: our experience

BMC Surg. 2013;13 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):S20. doi: 10.1186/1471-2482-13-S2-S20. Epub 2013 Oct 8.

Abstract

Background: Gallbladder carcinoma is a rare high malignancy neoplasm. The incidence of intra or post-operative incidental gallbladder carcinoma diagnosis is estimated between 0,2 and 2,8%. Primary aim of our study is to evaluate incidental gallbladder carcinoma's incidence in our experience.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our Surgery Division's experience about the totality of laparoscopic cholecystectomies with post-operative histological evidence of incidental gallbladder cancer. We evaluated patients' characteristics, surgical related variables, histological response, surgivcal radicalization characteristics and surgical outcome.

Results: In the considered sample we observed 7 accidental gallbladder adenocarcinomas in post-operative histological examination. Pathological results were:1 pT1b N0 (G1), 2 pT2 N0 (G2), 2 pT2 N1 (G3b), 2 pT3 N1 (G3b) (Table 1). In 5 cases we performed neoplasm radicalization surgery with standard procedure revision. Two patients died before radicalization. Median global survival was 34 months.

Conclusion: With the increase of laparoscopic cholecystectomies both elective and urgent performed in our centre we observed also an increase of incidentally diagnosed gallbladder neoplasms. Early diagnosis, meticulous peri-operative study and accurate surgical strategy are essential factors to obtain good results in incidental gallbladder cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic*
  • Female
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Incidental Findings
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies