Abstract
A retrospective review was made on 12 cases of polyps and polypoid lesions of the gallbladder as experienced during the past 10 years peiod. These included 4 cases of cholesterol polyp, 3 of adenoma, one of hyperplasia and 4 of adenocarcinoma. In 10 out of 12 cases, preoperative detection of the lesion was possible in ultrasonography. The Cholesterol polyps showed pattern Ia or IIa and the adenocarcinoma demonstrated patten IV in ultrasonography. In actual measurement of the lesions in specimens, most of cholesterol polyps were under 5mm and adenocarcinoma over 10mm in diameter. It was proposed that any polypoid lesions of the gallbladder measuring less than 5mm and those of 5 of 10mm in diameter showing echographic pattern I should be followed for observation. Surgery should be considered for any polypoid lesions showing echographic pattern II, III or IV because of possible malignancy. For polipoid lesions over 10mm in diameter, surgery is strongly indicated. It is also considered reasonable to conclude that no further surgery is necessary for the gallbladder in which malignancy is localized in "m" or "pm" layers. However in advanced adenocarcinoma invading subserous layer of the gallbladder in postoperative pathological examination, additional extensive surgery is mandatory.
