| It is commonly known that women who have had | | | | does manifest symptoms such as abdominal pain, this |
| children and those who are pregnant are prone to gall | | | | usually leads to their discovery by ultrasound |
| stones. Gall bladder polyps, however, are less widely | | | | examination. The patient with his physician must |
| known. | | | | make a treatment decision. Because it is not possible |
| Not to confuse polyps with stones-- a polyp is a | | | | to discern which type of polyps are present without |
| growth protruding from the lining of the gall bladder | | | | surgery and the pain is usually caused by stones, |
| and is also referred to as a "tumor." These polyps | | | | surgery is likely indicated. |
| may be cancerous, but usually are benign. | | | | A new wonder of medical science is now an option |
| Gall bladder polyps that are less than one centimeter | | | | for most people who are suffering with gall bladder |
| are most often benign, that is not cancerous. | | | | symptoms. This is laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic |
| Malignant (or cancerous) polyps of the gall bladder are | | | | gall bladder surgery employs several small incisions in |
| much more likely to be larger than one centimeter. | | | | the abdomen and the inflation of the abdomen with |
| Noncancerous polyps usually require no treatment. | | | | air to allow the surgeon to view the gall bladder |
| Doctors often suggest follow-up examinations in the | | | | clearly. One incision close to the navel is the portal for |
| case of such likely noncancerous, smaller polyps in | | | | a lighted scope attachment to a video camera-- the |
| order to evaluate the gall bladder for changes that | | | | laparoscope. A video monitor is used to guide the |
| could be an indication of cancer. These follow-ups are | | | | surgeon while surgical instruments are inserted into |
| generally done with the use of ultrasound. | | | | the other incisions to remove the gall bladder. |
| The odds are much greater that the gall bladder | | | | This surgery is the best choice in most cases for |
| polyps larger than one centimeter are cancerous, and | | | | these reasons: |
| in such cases, doctors recommend the surgical | | | | - It is generally both safe and effective. |
| removal of the gall bladder-the medical term for | | | | - It can be done on an outpatient basis or with a |
| which is cholecystectomy. The likelihood of cancer | | | | short hospital stay. |
| increases with the size of the polyp. A | | | | - There is a decreased risk that is associated with |
| cholecystectomy is also indicated in cases where | | | | open surgery. |
| both gall stones and polyps are present. The | | | | Some conditions indicate open surgery as the better |
| presence of both polyps and stones in the gall | | | | option. These may be: |
| bladder signals a greater risk for cancer. | | | | - Severe inflammation or infection of the bile ducts or |
| Upon medical examination of these polyps, it has | | | | abdominal lining. |
| been found that benign polyps are formed of | | | | - Being in the third trimester of pregnancy. |
| cholesterol and tissue-either muscle or inflammatory. | | | | - Scar tissue from previous abdominal surgeries. |
| Those that are malignant are adenomatous polyps, | | | | The pros and cons are specific to each individual, but |
| one centimeter or larger, similar to cancerous colon | | | | for many people, this treatment option has |
| polyps. | | | | decreased risk, pain and recuperation time-- another |
| It is rare that polyps in the gall bladder lead to | | | | advancement of medical science. |
| symptoms. In cases where a patient with polyps | | | | |