It acts as a storage area for bile, a substance produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder before being released into the digestive system (duodenum) to help digest food, especially fat.

“The gall bladder, during our life, can present various problems such as: polyps, cholelithiasis (stones in the gall), inflammation, or other diseases. Most of them can be treated with simple medication or just a simple monitoring is enough because they are not a serious problem that needs to be treated, but in some cases surgical removal of the gallbladder, also known as cholecystectomy, may be required,” points out Mr. Alexandros Darom Director Surgeon at Metropolitan Hospital.

What are gallbladder polyps?

“Gallbladder polyps are mucosal protrusions that project into the wall of the gallbladder and are structurally formed either by hyperplasia, i.e. an increase in the size of the cells of the organ itself, or by cholesterol deposition on the walls of the gallbladder. Polyps are usually benign and are often discovered incidentally during a simple abdominal ultrasound.

In some cases, gallbladder polyps can cause health problems such as blockage of the gallbladder lumen, pain in the gallbladder area, and in extremely rare cases, they can develop into cancer.

The incidence of gallbladder polyps in the general population ranges between 1% and 7%,” he notes.

What are the most common types of biliary polyps?

The most common types of biliary polyps are:

• cholesterol polyps (60% of all)
• adenomyomas (25%)
• inflammatory polyps (10%)
• adenomas (5%)

What are the causes of bile polyps?

Some factors considered responsible for the condition are:

• The age
• Obesity
• Hereditary predisposition
• Diabetes mellitus

An important predisposing factor for the appearance of a malignant polyp of the gallbladder is the large (mainly) size stone (gallstone) that remains for years and causes chronic irritation of the inner wall of the gallbladder.

What are the symptoms of biliary polyps?

Small-sized gallbladder polyps are almost always asymptomatic and do not cause any discomfort. They have an insidious course for a long time until they grow large enough to cause obstruction of the gallbladder lumen with symptoms such as: severe postprandial flatulence (abdominal bloating), with or without pain mainly in the epigastrium and right hypochondrium (lower right from the sides), with or without accompanying nausea and vomiting.

How does one discover the existence of biliary polyps?

Gallbladder polyps are very often discovered by chance during medical examinations, mainly through ultrasound. “Ultrasound is the most common method for identifying gallbladder polyps. If polyps are seen during these tests, the doctor will evaluate the condition and discuss appropriate management, which may include monitoring the condition, removing the gallbladder, or performing other medical tests, depending on the severity. of the subject” clarifies Mr. Darom.

How dangerous are gallbladder polyps for our health?

“Usually gallbladder polyps are not dangerous. Sizes below 6-7 millimeters in polyps are considered harmless. However, the risk is mainly related to the size and the doubling time of this size, but also to characteristics, such as the age of the patient (if he is over 50 years old), if the polyp coexists with primary sclerosing cholangitis, and if the focal thickness of the wall is more than 4 mm. For this reason, even very small polyps must be checked with ultrasound at regular intervals and if it is observed that they are growing, and especially if they are growing at a rate of more than 2 millimeters per six months, they need immediate surgical treatment,” emphasizes the surgeon.

When should gallbladder polyps be surgically removed?

The removal of a biliary polyp is mainly determined by its size and composition:

• When the polyp is 20 mm in diameter, the risk of malignancy increases significantly, and therefore immediate cholecystectomy is required
• For polyps between 7 and 20 millimeters in diameter, cholecystectomy is recommended, as they are considered potentially malignant.
• Polyps up to 7mm in diameter are usually benign and do not require removal. However, as mentioned above, it is necessary to repeat the ultrasound examination every six months for the first two years from their diagnosis and then every year.

Gallbladder polyps are treated with which surgical method?

“Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal laparoscopically) is an extremely safe procedure. The operation is always done under general anesthesia and the surgeon uses a small camera and specialized tools to detach and remove the gallbladder through small holes,” explains Mr. Darom, citing the advantages of the method:

Among the advantages of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the painless postoperative course of the patient stands out.

Specifically:

• The patient needs hospitalization for 24 hours (or less)
• He is able to move immediately after the operation
• Can be eaten immediately the same evening with a light, non-fatty meal
• He returns to his daily life in about 3 days
• No postoperative pain
• There are no dietary restrictions, except for a special diet in the first two weeks

The operating theaters of the Metropolitan Hospital are equipped with specialized tools – laparoscopy machines of the latest technological generation and offer comprehensive and specialized services for all laparoscopic operations and for all diseases of the digestive system, with an emphasis on diseases of the liver, stomach, biliary tree, pancreas and colon . Metropolitan Hospital is committed to providing understandable and accessible information to patients so that they, in cooperation with the specialist surgeon, are able to choose the appropriate treatment. The informed patient is a priority for Metropolitan Hospital to achieve the best possible outcome.