Coronary Artery Disease and Gallbladder Inflammatory Pseudopolyps

Axial MR image demonstrating multiple small gallbladder polypoid lesions characterized by contrast enhancement in a 78-year-old male hospitalized for acute chest pain due to coronary artery disease who showed fever and emesis during hospitalization and had signs of acute acalculous cholecystitis at computed tomography. Given the overall clinical conditions and the MR features, the inflammatory origin of the polyps was considered. The patient underwent cholecystectomy and the histological diagnosis of gallbladder inflammatory pseudopolyps was confirmed. This rare entity represents 5–10% of all gallbladder polyps, and their differentiation from benign and malignant tumors might be challenging especially in acalculous patients, thus surgery is often performed.

The sonographer dilemma: Ultrasound follow-up in patients with small gallbladder polyps

What should sonographers recommend to patients diagnosed with small gallbladder polyps? Is follow-up always the solution? And for how many years should we encourage patients to participate in a follow-up ultrasound program? This tutorial discusses current research and guidelines.

Ultrasound Modality in the Evaluation and Management of Gallbladder Polyps

Gallbladder polyps (GBP) are defined as developed masses inside the wall of the gallbladder; most of them (90%) are nontumor lesions. Abdominal ultrasound is the main and the first line radiological modality for their diagnosis and their risk lamination. We conducted a 12 year retrospective study between 2009 and 2020, which included patients who had preoperative transabdominal ultrasonography showing gallbladder polyps and had undergone cholecystectomy, and for whom postoperative pathology results were available, as well as patients who had at least one polyp discovered on the histopathological exam and who were not determined preoperatively. A total of 70 patients were identified. Preoperative diagnosis of vesicular polyp by ultrasound was carried in 82.9% of patients. The number of ultrasounds performed per person was 1.2 ± 0.47. The polyps’ size in mm was on average 6.14 ± 2.6 with extremes between 3 and 13 mm. On anatomopathological examination, a polyp was objectified in 33.3% of cases. In our series, abdominal ultrasound had a low sensitivity at 36.4%. We aim to provide the accuracy of abdominal ultrasound for the diagnosis of GBP, as a low-cost modality, and to evaluate the concordance of preoperative ultrasound imaging with postoperative pathology.

Management and follow-up of gallbladder polyps: updated joint guidelines between the ESGAR, EAES, EFISDS and ESGE

Main recommendations Primary investigation of polypoid lesions of the gallbladder should be with abdominal ultrasound. Routine use of other imaging modalities is not recommended presently, but further research is needed. In centres with appropriate expertise and resources, alternative imaging modalities (such as contrast-enhanced and endoscopic ultrasound) may be useful to aid decision-making in difficult cases. Strong recommendation, low–moderate quality evidence. Cholecystectomy is recommended in patients with polypoid lesions of the gallbladder measuring 10 mm or more, providing the patient is fit for, and accepts, surgery. Multidisciplinary discussion may be employed to assess perceived individual risk of malignancy. Strong recommendation, low-quality evidence. Cholecystectomy is suggested for patients with a polypoid lesion and symptoms potentially attributable to the gallbladder if no alternative cause for the patient’s symptoms is demonstrated and the patient is fit for, and accepts, surgery. The patient should be counselled regarding the benefit of cholecystectomy versus the risk of persistent symptoms. Strong recommendation, low-quality evidence. If the patient has a 6–9 mm polypoid lesion of the gallbladder and one or more risk factors for malignancy, cholecystectomy is recommended if the patient is fit for, and accepts, surgery. These risk factors are as follows: age more than 60 years, history of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), Asian ethnicity, sessile polypoid lesion (including focal gallbladder wall thickening > 4 mm). Strong recommendation, low–moderate quality evidence. If the patient has either no risk factors for malignancy and a gallbladder polypoid lesion of 6–9 mm, or risk factors for malignancy and a gallbladder polypoid lesion 5 mm or less, follow-up ultrasound of the gallbladder is recommended at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. Follow-up should be discontinued after 2 years in the absence of growth. Moderate strength recommendation, moderate-quality evidence. If the patient has no risk factors for malignancy, and a gallbladder polypoid lesion of 5 mm or less, follow-up is not required. Strong recommendation, moderate-quality evidence. If during follow-up the gallbladder polypoid lesion grows to 10 mm, then cholecystectomy is advised. If the polypoid lesion grows by 2 mm or more within the 2-year follow-up period, then the current size of the polypoid lesion should be considered along with patient risk factors. Multidisciplinary discussion may be employed to decide whether continuation of monitoring, or cholecystectomy, is necessary. Moderate strength recommendation, moderate-quality evidence. If during follow-up the gallbladder polypoid lesion disappears, then monitoring can be discontinued. Strong recommendation, moderate-quality evidence. Source and scope These guidelines are an update of the 2017 recommendations developed between the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR), European Association for Endoscopic Surgery and other Interventional Techniques (EAES), International Society of Digestive Surgery–European Federation (EFISDS) and European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). A targeted literature search was performed to discover recent evidence concerning the management and follow-up of gallbladder polyps. The changes within these updated guidelines were formulated after consideration of the latest evidence by a group of international experts. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system was adopted to define the strength of recommendations and the quality of evidence. Key Point • These recommendations update the 2017 European guidelines regarding the management and follow-up of gallbladder polyps.

Segment IV Approach is Useful for Whole-Layer Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Gallbladder Polyps

Background Whole-layer laparoscopic cholecystectomy (W-LC) has recently been advocated as a total biopsy for potentially malignant neoplasms of the gallbladder; however, it is not an injury-proof procedure. This study reports W-LC using the segment IV approach (technique for securing the whole-layer gallbladder at the medial origin of the cystic plate).MethodsTwenty among twenty-five patients diagnosed with potentially malignant gallbladder polyps underwent this technique.ResultsMostly, W-LC was performed successfully (median operative time 135 min) without intraoperative and postoperative complications. Pathological findings indicated that cholesteric polyps was the most common type (n=13), followed by adenomatous polyps (25%) and carcinoma in situ (5%).ConclusionsWe conclude that the segment IV approach is appropriate for performing total biopsy in patients diagnosed with potentially malignant gallbladder polyps.

P-BN20 An evaluation of the accuracy of sonography for the measurements of gallbladder polyps across 3 UK hospital trusts: should the surveillance guidelines be revised?

Background Transabdominal ultrasound scan (USS) is recommended for surveillance of gallbladder polyps (GBP), this is to stratify risk for premalignant potential. European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology make recommendations based on increases of as small 2mm during sequential USS surveillance. Our aim is to determine the accuracy of USS in diagnosis and measurement of GBP. Methods Measurement data for all GBPs were gathered for three hospital trusts across a 12 year period and retrospectively reviewed. USS findings (diagnosis of GBP and GBP size) were compared with histological diagnosis and measurements, when both reports were available, in those patients who had underwent cholecystectomy at the time of data collection. Results For the first two hospital trusts, 778 USS were reviewed which identified patients with GBP. 78 patients had undergone cholecystectomy at time of data collection. Only 17/78 of patients had histological evidence of GBP. Of those without GBP, 37/61 had gallstones. For the third hospital trust, 41 GBP histological reports were identified, 20 could be directly compared with USS. Collectively 29 USS reports were directly compared with GBP histology reports. Only, 31% had results which were in agreement to within 1mm. The mean measurement discrepancy between both modalities was 5.41mm. Conclusions USS does not provide an accurate diagnosis of GBP, it is likely that USS misdiagnoses gallstones as GBP. Moreover, when comparing USS measurements with histological data, there is 31% accuracy of measurement to within 1mm in this cohort. Current guidelines recommend cholecystectomy if there is an interval change of 2mm or more; this data shows a measurement error of more than this.

P-BN21 Diagnostic accuracy of transabdominal ultrasound for assessing gallbladder polyps

Background Gallbladder polyps are common findings on transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) and their implications are not entirely clear. Current guidelines advise monitoring with serial TAUS and to offer laparoscopic cholecystectomy if criteria are met to minimise risk of malignant transformation. TAUS is easily accessible and useful at identifying gallbladder polyps, however, has limitations when differentiating between pseudopolyps and true gallbladder polyps with malignant potential. This study looks at a district general hospital’s outcomes for patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallbladder polyps. Methods This retrospective study identified patients who had polyps identified on TAUS and subsequently undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy from 2011 to 2021. We identified patients using hospital coding and subsequently assessed their pre-operative imaging and clinic letters to ensure gallbladder polyps were the reason for cholecystectomy. The size of polyp on TAUS was noted and pathology reports were assessed to determine if polyps had been correctly identified on TAUS and if these were true or pseudopolyps. Clinic letters were assessed to determine if patients were symptomatic pre-operatively. Results 66 patients were identified as having polyps pre-operatively. The size of polyp ranged from 2-19mm with a mean of 7.4mm. 39 (59%) patients were symptomatic pre-operatively. TAUS findings correlated with pathology findings of polyps in 45 (68%) patients. Of the 21 patients with no polyps on pathology: 11 had gallstones, 9 had chronic cholecystitis and 1 normal gallbladder. Of the polyps identified 44 were pseudopolyps and only 1 was a true adenoma – 39 cholesterol polyps, 3 inflammatory polyps and 2 adenomyomatosis. There was no evidence of dysplasia on the adenoma, it measured 5mm on TAUS and the patient was symptomatic. Conclusions This study highlights the limitations of TAUS in correctly identifying true polyps. The 41% of asymptomatic patients all had benign findings on pathology and likely had no benefit from surgery. Whilst TAUS is a useful method of identifying potential polyps these findings would suggest that other methods of identifying true polyps should be sought to minimise patients undergoing unnecessary surgery.

P-BN22 The use of virtual clinics in gallbladder polyp surveillance

Background Gallbladder polyps are common findings on ultrasound with a prevalence between 0.3-9.5%. Their significance is not clear but are theorised to have potential risk of transformation into gallbladder malignancy which have poor prognosis if not caught early. Current guidelines recommend surveillance of polyps and that laparoscopic cholecystectomy should be offered if certain criteria are met. Most patients are asymptomatic and regular reviews in clinic is time consuming for patients and adds to strain on services. This study looks at the use of virtual clinics in gallbladder polyp surveillance. Methods Since January 2019 patients identified with gallbladder polyps have been added to virtual clinic. Each patient is added to a database which is maintained by one upper GI surgeon. Current guidelines are followed: laparoscopic cholecystectomy is offered if polyps are greater than 1cm, there is an increase greater than 2mm between scans, and in high-risk groups or in symptomatic patients. All other patients are offered interval scans as per guidelines and a template letter is generated informing patients of their scan results and date of their follow up scan. Results Since January 2019, 70 patients have been identified to have gallbladder polyps. Of these 48 patients so far have benefitted from involvement from follow up in virtual clinic to date, this has resulted in 88 clinic appointments being saved. 12 patients have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to increase in size of their gallbladder polyps or secondary to symptoms. 7 patients have been lost to follow up, 2 discharged due to the gallbladder polyps disappearing and the other 49 remain under surveillance in the virtual clinic. Conclusions Long term polyp surveillance can be time consuming for both the patient and clinician. This model of a virtual clinic maintains clear communication with patients about their scan findings, the risks associated and plans for future scans. This is an efficient method of monitoring these patients that has good compliance and identifies patients appropriate for surgery.

P-O03 The Management of Gallbladder Polyps at a Single Trust: Are we compliant with European Guidelines?

Background Gallbladder polyps affect approximately 5% of the global population, with rates highest in those of Indian descent. 10% of polyps will have malignant potential based on their size or rapid growth rate, which are associated with a poor 5-year survival once advanced of less than 25%. As gallbladder polyps are common but gallbladder cancer is rare, it is a diagnostic challenge to determine which polyps are likely to be malignant. Adherence to guidelines regarding radiological follow up and definitive treatment, in the form of a cholecystectomy, is therefore vital. Methods Retrospective data collection and analysis was completed for all patients who had a biliary ultrasound between December 2013 and December 2016 to enable 5-year follow up, and a snapshot of 47 patients selected at random. Patients having a gallbladder “polyp” documented on their scan report were eligible for inclusion and adherence to European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) guidelines was assessed. Results Within the cohort there was a mean age of 56 years, with a male:female ratio of 17:30. All patients included were Caucasian, with 41 reporting “biliary symptoms” as the indication for the primary ultrasound. 26 patients were not followed up in adherence to guidelines, with 50% due to the sonographer reporting follow-up was not indicated on initial scan, 5 having unchanged polyp size and 2 discharged by the responsible consultant. Of the 21 who were followed up according to guidelines, 20 had a cholecystectomy within 5years, with none of these patients having cancer detected on histology. Conclusions Over 50% of patients within our cohort were not followed up according to the ESGAR guidelines. Although no patients in the study were found to have malignant polyps, the sample size is relatively small and limited to low-risk groups. We aim to expand this audit both locally and regionally, raise awareness of the importance of surveillance across the multi-disciplinary team, and produce local guidance for the outpatient setting.