ROLE OF LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY IN TREATING GALLBLADDER POLYPS

Since the application of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (Lap C) to gallb ladder polyps has not yet been fully evaluated, we performed Lap C on 26 patients with gallbladder polyps. Pathological examinations showed adenocarcinoma in three patients, adenoma in two, and cholesterol poly p in 21. Preoperative diagnoses of the cases with adenocarcinoma were a cholesterol polyp in one patient and an adenoma in two. Adenocarcino ma was confirmed to reside in the mucosa without any invasion of lymph atic ducts or small vessels in the three patients. This procedure was considered to be sufficient for this grade of cancer, and, therefore, no additional operations were performed. At present, our policy is to resect by Lap C a gallbladder polyp having a maximum size larger than 10 mm and a tendency to grow or presenting with suspicion of adenoma. When cancer is suspected by preoperative examinations, however, tradit ional surgery may be recommended.