Abstract
This review deals with the relationship between adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder and gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), mainly based on our previously published data that included a total of 7,757 consecutive patients who underwent cholecystectomy for various conditions. Adenomyomatosis of the gallbladder was classified into segmental, fundal, and diffuse types. The prevalence of GBC was higher in patients with segmental adenomyomatosis (34/522, 6.5%) than in those without (274/7235, 3.8%; P=0.002). This difference was more marked among patients equal to or older than 60 years of age (P<0.001). The other types of adenomyomatosis showed no increased prevalences of GBC. In all 34 patients with both segmental adenomyomatosis and GBC, the tumors developed only in the fundal mucosa and showed a gastric mucous phenotype. Segmental adenomyomatosis is a high-risk condition for GBC, especially in elderly patients. Gastric type of epithelial metaplasia appears related to carcinogenesis in gallbladders with segmental adenomyomatosis.
