Abstract
We performed ultrasonography on 155,238 participants in a mass-screening program implemented between 1995 and 2004. We diagnosed GB-ADM in 720 subjects (0.46%) during these 10 years. GB-ADM was detected in 574 of 101,209 men (0.43%) and in 146 of 71,499 women (0.20%), indicating a greater prevalence in men. We determined the prevalence of GB-ADM and clinical features such as gender, age, macroscopic findings and complications in 125 persons over intervals up to 10 years (mean observation period, 5.8 years). Ultrasonography showed 58 cases (46%) to be localized, while 37 (30%) were segmental and 30 (24%) were diffuse. Thus, localized cases were the most frequent. No patients had gallbladder carcinoma. Gallstones were present at the initial screening in 6 of 125 patients followed up for GB-ADM (4.8%): 1 (0.8%) among the localized cases, 4 (3.2%) among the segmental cases and 1 (0.8%) among the diffuse cases. Gallbladder polyps were detected during screening in 19 of 125 patients with GB-ADM (15.2%): 4 (3.2%) among the localized cases, 6 (4.8%) among the segmental cases and 9 (3.2%) among the diffuse cases. In 5 of the 125 patients who underwent follow-up (4.0%), serial ultrasonographic observations showed a further increase in the gallbladder wall thickness, but no new gallstones, new polyps or carcinomas. More extensive long-term observations will be necessary to clarify whether or not any relationship exists between GB-ADM and gallstones, as well as between GB-ADM and gallbladder carcinoma.
