Pathological findings of incidental gallbladder cancer

Abstract

We examined the histopathological features of incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC). We analyzed the 15 cases of IGBC (6 cases of early stage, 9 cases of advanced stage) and the incidence was 2.7%. Compared with 19 cases of conventional gallbladder cancer (CGBC), gallstones tended to be more complicated in the advanced IGBC group than in CGBC, and wall thickening was lower (P=0.034). These results were considered to be a factor that makes image diagnosis difficult. Although there were no differences between IGBC and CGBC in terms of lymphatic or venous invasion and prognosis, 6 cases in the early stage disease group showed no lymphatic invasion or venous invasion, and only one case experienced a postoperative recurrence. Since the clinical course of IGBC differs according to the stage at the time of diagnosis, it is important to perform additional examination in whole tissue section and carefully perform staging.