Incidental Gall Bladder Carcinoma in Cholecystectomy Specimens - Retrospective Study

Background: Gallbladder carcinoma is the 5th most common cause of gastrointestinal tract globally1. In India the incidence of gallbladder carcinoma is 0.8%-1%2. The risk factors are cholelithiasis, calcified gallbladder wall, adenomatous polyp, obesity, estrogen, choledochal cyst and chemical carcinogens2,3 cholecystectomy is the most common surgical procedure for chronic cholecystitis and gallbladder malignancy4,5. Aims and Objectives: 1) To study age wise and sex wise analysis of gallbladder lesions 2) To determine the pathological staging of Incidental gallbladder carcinoma. Materials and Methods: A Retrospective (3yrs) study was done on abdominal and laparoscopic cholecystectomies with a clinical, radiological diagnosis of benign gallbladder lesions at Santhiram medical college and general hospital, Nandyal during the period from Jan 2021 to Dec 2023. Results: A total of 684 cases of cholecystectomy specimens received over a period of 3 years. The most common lesion as calculous cholecystitis 420 cases (61.40%), following 240 cases were acalculous cholecystitis (36.26%) and xantho granulomatous cholecystitis 16 cases (2.34%). Among 684 cases, 12 cases (1.75%) diagnosed as Incidental gallbladder carcinoma. Out of 12 cases of Incidental gallbladder carcinoma 8 cases (66.7%) cases observed with chronic calculous cholecystitis (66%), 3 cases in chronic acalculous cholecystitis (25.5%) and one case in Xantho- granulomatous cholecystitis (8.3%). Conclusion: Histopathological examination of cholecystectomy specimens is mandatory and gold standard for prompt management of occult malignancy.