Minimally invasive treatment of gallbladder polyps

Abstract

Gallbladder cancer is a lethal disease when diagnosed at later stages, and gallbladder polyps may have malignant potential or harbor cancer, especially as the polyp increases in size. Therefore, cholecystectomy has been recommended by guidelines for gallbladder polyps ≥ 10 mm, or smaller polyps with risk factors. In this article, we review minimally invasive approaches to the management of gallbladder polyps. The predominant method of cholecystectomy has been laparoscopic, which has advantages in faster recovery compared to open cholecystectomy. More recently, many surgeons have converted their minimally invasive techniques to robotic approaches. In addition, combined laparoscopic-endoscopic or purely endoscopic approaches have been reported. The ultimate goal of gallbladder polyp management using minimally invasive approaches is to minimize morbidity, given the low incidence of cancer within polyps, while preventing polyps with malignant potential from converting to cancer, or curing cancerous polyps.

Keywords

Minimally invasive / laparoscopic / robotic / endoscopy / gallbladder polyp

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