Outcome of routine histopathological examination of gallbladder specimen following cholecystectomy in Egyptian population

Abstract

Background Gallbladder diseases (GBDs) are one of the most common surgical diseases. Gallbladder stones (GBSs) are the commonest pathology affecting the gallbladder. Gallbladder cancers (GBCs) are rare though lethal malignancy. GBCs represent a diagnostic and clinical challenge, since its presentation is often nonspecific and its diagnosis commonly occurs at an advanced stage. Aim The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcome of the routine histopathological examination of all cholecystectomy specimens. Patients and methods This study was a retrospective analysis, conducted on 1011 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholecystitis, in KASR AL-AINY Hospital, General Surgery Department between June 2021 and November 2022. Results Age of patients ranged from 14 to 79 years, females patients were 857 and male patients were 154. Chronic cholecystitis was the most common GBD, 1006 specimens were benign. One specimen was premalignant; dysplasia, and 4 specimens were malignant; 1 case was focal intraepithelial neoplasia, and 3 cases were adenocarcinomas. There was no statistically significant difference between both sexes. The mean thickness of gallbladder was 0.39 cm. multiple gallbladder stones were found in 619 patients, single stones were found in 249 patients, and no stones were found in 143 patients. The largest stone size was 6.00 cm. Female patients have increased preponderance for the development of all GBDs. Nonneoplastic lesions were more common below fifth decade and neoplastic lesions thereafter. Conclusion In this study, the rate of incidental GBCs is very low. All cholecystectomy specimens were routinely sent for histopathology to detect incidental GBC.