Incidental gall bladder carcinoma: does the surgical approach influence the outcome?

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome in patients with unsuspected gall bladder carcinoma diagnosed after cholecystectomy, comparing the laparoscopic approach with open surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study was done of 16 patients who were diagnosed with unsuspected gall bladder carcinoma out of the 2850 who had undergone cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis at our institution between 1990 and 2004. Eight cases (seven women and one man, mean age 63 (range 49-75 years) ) were diagnosed after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (group A) and eight cases (six women and two men, mean age 63 (range 50-79 years) ) after open cholecystectomy (group B). We evaluated the outcome in the two groups correlating the cumulative survival rates with tumour stage and surgical technique. RESULTS: In group A, three patients had port-site recurrence (1 pT1a and 2 pT1b tumours) after 6, 7 and 9 months, one had intraperitoneal dissemination (pT2) after 3 months, and four had no recurrence (1 pTis, 2 pT1a and 1 pT1b). In group B, five patients had recurrences (4 pT1b and 1 pT2) after an average of 8 months (range 5-11) and three had no recurrence (1 pTis and 2 pT1a). Survival rate was statistically correlated with tumour stage but not with the surgical approach used to perform cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical approach used for cholecystectomy would seem not to influence the outcome in patients with unsuspected gall bladder carcinoma. The tumour stage is the most important prognostic factor.     

Gall bladder injuries as part of the spectrum of civilian abdominal trauma in South Africa

BACKGROUND: Trauma to the gall bladder is rare, but when missed or improperly managed it may be associated with significant morbidity. The aim of the present study was to review the management and outcomes of gall bladder trauma in a trauma centre. METHODS: Forty-three patients with gall bladder injury due to abdominal trauma were reviewed over a 3-year period. Surgical management, associated injuries, morbidity and mortality rates were determined. RESULTS: Among 1242 patients undergoing laparotomy for acute trauma, 43 patients (3.46%) with gall bladder injuries were identified. Forty patients sustained penetrating injuries (37 with gunshot wounds and three with stab wounds), and three patients suffered from blunt trauma. All patients with gall bladder injury underwent abdominal exploration because of associated intra-abdominal injuries. Thirty-six patients were treated with cholecystectomy, four patients underwent primary suture repair of the gall bladder perforation, while three patients with gall bladder injury were treated without any surgical intervention at laparotomy. No complications could be attributed to the gall bladder trauma or surgery. CONCLUSION: Cholecystectomy is the preferred procedure of choice for gall bladder injuries and is associated with no morbidity.     

GRIPPING THE DIFFICULT GALL BLADDER DURING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Grasping a tense, inflamed gall bladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis is often a problem. Although many surgeons have developed techniques to deal with this, the published work lacks information about how to manage this problem. To collate experience about how to deal with this we interviewed 20 experienced Australian surgeons and compiled a repertoire of tactics that might help deal with this clinical situation. Most surgeons indicated that they deflated the gall bladder using a needle and suction as a preliminary step. Most respondents also described the use of a specific type of forceps for the task. Various manoeuvres, such as displacement of the gall bladder with forceps, dislodging an impacted stone to make it easier to grasp, the use of a retraction suture through the gall bladder were described. The various tactics are summarized in the paper. A range of strategies applied by experienced surgeons for the task of gripping a difficult gall bladder has been documented in this paper. The variety of approaches suggests that surgeons should be prepared to flexibly apply different approaches to this task.     

GALL BLADDER POLYPS IN SCLEROSING CHOLANGITIS: DOES THE 1‐CM RULE APPLY?

INTRODUCTION: Polyps of the gall bladder (PLG) are common findings in radiological investigations of the gall bladder and most are benign although carcinoma of the gall bladder can arise in PLG. In the general population PLG less than 1 cm in diameter are thought to have a low risk of malignancy and can be cautiously observed. METHODS: All patients undergoing surgical resection for gall bladder cancer were entered into a prospective database. Four patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) presenting with gall bladder cancer in a PLG are studied. RESULTS: Four patients (two men; median age 46.5 years, range 37-71 years) presented with PLG and known histories of PSC. All patients were shown to have PLG of size between 7 mm x 8 mm and 25 mm x 14 mm on imaging with no radiological evidence of carcinoma. Tumour markers carcinoembryonic antigen and CA19-9 were within the normal range in all patients. All patients were managed with cholecystectomy. Two patients with T1 tumours remain alive and well at 2 and 4 years post-cholecystectomy. Of the remaining two patients with T2 tumours, one underwent re-resection of the liver bed and portal lymph nodes and remains alive and well at 12 months. The remaining patient developed an abdominal wall recurrence 12 months after cholecystectomy. She has also undergone resection with postoperative radiation therapy and remains well after 12 months of clinical follow up. CONCLUSION: Gall bladder polyps, which are common and are usually benign in the general population, are often malignant in PSC. Regardless of size, any PLG in a patient with PSC should be considered for cholecystectomy.     

Incidental carcinoma gall bladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gall stone disease

Introduction  Carcinoma gall bladder (CaGB) is a disease with high mortality and is usually diagnosed as an incidental case among patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) for symptomatic gall stone disease. Methods  A total of 3205 LC done between January 2004 and August 2007 for symptomatic gall stone disease were retrospectively searched for incidental CaGB (detected on histopathology). None of these cases had preoperative suspicion of malignancy and their whole data was analyzed with special attention to preoperative and intraoperative findings which could raise suspicion of CaGB. In November 2007, patients were followed up telephonically about their present status of health. Results  Nineteen patients (14 female and 5 male) with incidental CaGB (incidence 0.59%) were detected. Mean age of the patients was 56 years. Only two of these patients had clinical jaundice and both had common bile duct (CBD) stones. The majority of the patients were in early pathological stages (pT) and none was in pT3 and pT4 stage. Seventeen patients could be followed up telephonically in November 2007 and of those 14 patients were alive at a mean follow-up duration of 21.2 months, with one of them having evidence of metastatic disease. Conclusion  Gall bladder (GB) malignancy may be curable if diagnosed in early stages as an incidental finding and LC may not worsen the prognosis in such cases. In our series, incidental CaGB was detected in 0.59% patients undergoing LC. No association could be found between preoperative and intraoperative findings that could raise a suspicion of malignancy of gall bladder and so use of retrieval bag as a routine measure in cases with bile spillage may reduce the incidence of port-site metastasis.     

New scoring system for differentiating xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis from gall bladder carcinoma: a tertiary care centre experience

Background

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is an uncommon variant of chronic cholecystitis, characterized by a focal or diffuse destructive inflammatory process. The importance of XGC is that it mimics gall bladder carcinoma (GBC) both preoperatively and intra‐operatively, as it can present with pericholecystic infiltration, hepatic involvement and lymphadenopathy. As a result of a misdiagnosis, which is not infrequent, the patient may undergo an unnecessary radical cholecystectomy rather than only a cholecystectomy, which is associated with a greater morbidity and mortality. The main aim of the study is to formulate a simple preoperative scoring system for diagnosis of XGC which might benefit patients by avoiding radical procedures.

Methods

A retrospective study was done from all the patients who underwent gall bladder and gall bladder‐related operations (benign and malignant), during a 5‐year time period from 2010 to 2014 in a tertiary care centre were reviewed (n = 462).

Results

Initial analyses of all the clinical and imaging parameters were done. Patients with a long history of recurrent abdominal pain with leucocytosis and who on imaging are found to have a diffusely thickened gall bladder wall, cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis and submucosal hypoattenuated nodules are likely to have XGC while those with anorexia, weight loss, focal thickening of the gall bladder wall on imaging and dense local organ infiltration are more likely to have GBC. The presence of lymph nodes on imaging and the loss of a fat plane interface between the liver and gall bladder are not differentiating factors. A scoring system was made by taking statistically significant features (n = 13) of clinical and imaging parameters in initial assessment to identify the features of XGC. The same scoring system was subsequently applied to the patients who underwent cholecystectomy to study the effectiveness and the results were reviewed.

Conclusion

High value scores (≥11/13) helps in diagnosing XGC in preoperative setting. Hence, intra‐operative frozen section analysis can be avoided in such cases to differentiate XGC and GBC. However in difficult cases with high suspicion of malignancy based on clinical experience, definitive diagnosis still remains a histopathological examination to avoid radical resection in patients who have a benign condition.     

腹腔镜治疗胆囊颈部结石临床体会

目的探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除术胆囊颈部结石的处理方法。方法 2002年10月至2008年10月间,我们对286例胆囊颈部结石分别采用腹腔镜胆囊顺行切除、逆行切除和顺逆结合切除术治疗。结果手术均获成功,术后恢复顺利,无严重并发症出现。结论腹腔镜胆囊切除术中对不同情况的胆囊颈部结石采用不同的处理方法,可以有效避免术中胆管损伤等严重并发症。     

胆囊颈部结石的腹腔镜切除治疗

目的:探讨胆囊颈部结石伴发胆囊炎的腹腔镜切除方法。方法:226例胆囊颈部结石,根据胆囊炎的不同情况,分别采用胆囊顺行切除、逆行切除和顺逆结合切除方法进行治疗。结果:手术均获成功,术后恢复顺利,并发症发生率较低。结论:腹腔镜胆囊切除术中对不同情况的胆囊颈部结石采用不同的处理方法,可以有效避免术中胆管损伤等严重并发症。     

Double Gall Bladder—A Rare Entity

Cholecystectomy is the most commonly performed operation in surgery. Variations inanatomical disposition are not infrequent. However variations in number of cystic ductand gall bladder is quiet rare. This poses a diagnostic and management problem withcomplications during surgery and missed gall bladder being reported in world literature. We here by report a case of double gall bladder with double cystic duct that was managed by laparoscopic surgery.     

Agenesis of gall bladder in laparoscopic cholecystectomy—A case report

IntroductionAgenesis of gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly of biliary tree that may be associated with other biliary and extra biliary congenital anomalies.Case presentationA 43- year- old female presented with a 4 months history of upper abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. It was associated with dyspeptic symptoms and become worse following ingestion of high-fat meal contents. Clinically, a differential of gall stone disease was considered. Ultrasonography of abdomen revealed a contracted gallbladder with multiple stones with normal wall thickness, so the fact of clinical diagnosis considering finding cholithiasis. She was submitted to laparoscopic exploration which revealed that the gall bladder was absent within gall bladder fossa.DiscussionIn this case, the differential of cholithiasis symptoms considered support by ultrasonography, symptomatic gall stones presented more than half of cases of gall bladder agenesis, Diagnosis of gall bladder disease usually done by ultrasound modality, it must be done by expert one. Awareness of this entity by clinicians, surgeons and radiologists are essential because many of these patients present with biliary symptoms and have unnecessary operations.ConclusionAgenesis of gallbladder should be kept in mind whenever the gall bladder was improperly visualized in routine imaging methods. Ultrasonography operated dependent we must not depend on single one or even multiple done by the same person. Avoid a needless surgical exploration, which might be risky. Non-visualized gall bladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is challenging should not convert to open unless sure that the gall bladder was present.     

The gall bladder and bile ducts

A detailed knowledge of the gall bladder and bile ducts (together with their anatomical variations) and related blood supply are essential in the safe performance of both open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy as well as the interpretation of radiological and ultrasound images of these structures. These topics are described and illustrated.     

Cholecystectomy for gall bladder dyskinesia: symptom resolution and satisfaction in a rural surgical practice

Background: Gall bladder dyskinesia describes a clinical entity with symptoms of biliary colic but without objective evidence of gallstones. Recent work has suggested laparoscopic cholecystectomy as an effective treatment although this approach has not gained widespread acceptance in Australia. Methods: At the sole nuclear medicine facility in Mildura, Victoria, a retrospective search of patients with gallbladder ejection fractions ≤35% on CCK‐HIDA (cholecystokinin‐^99mTc hepatoiminodiacetic acid) scanning over a 3‐year period from 1 January 1998 was undertaken. Twenty‐eight patients proceeded to cholecystectomy by the author and case notes were reviewed for symptoms, preoperative investigation, operation, pathology and complications. Telephone follow‐up was carried out assessing symptom response and overall satisfaction following operation. Results: Follow up was achieved in 100% of patients with a mean duration of 18 months. Twenty‐five of 28 underwent chole­cystectomy by laparoscopic approach and there were no complications in the series. All gall bladders demonstrated an abnormality at histology. Overall, 79% of patients had some symptom improvement at follow‐up with 29% completely symptom free. Six patients (21%) were not improved following cholecystectomy. Overall satisfaction was high with a median 8/10. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is recommended for gallbladder dyskinesia diagnosed on CCK‐HIDA scanning, after other causes have been excluded and informed discussion regarding incomplete symptom resolution has been undertaken. Improvement without operation occurs only in the minority and is rarely complete. Cholecystectomy affords at least partial symptom relief in the majority with high levels of patient satisfaction.     

黏蛋白1在胆囊癌中的表达和意义

目的探讨黏蛋白1(MUC1)在原发性胆囊癌组织中的表达及其在胆囊癌诊断和免疫治疗中的意义。方法采用免疫组化方法检测42例原发性胆囊癌组织和17例正常胆囊组织中MUC1的表达。结果MUC1在胆囊癌组织中的阳性表达率为76.19%,明显高于正常胆囊组织(29.41%),两组存在统计学差异(P<0.05)。MUC1在胆囊癌组织中阳性表达率与胆囊癌组织病理类型、组织学分化、淋巴结转移及Nevin分期也有相关关系。但与有无合并胆囊结石无相关关系。结论MUC1可作为胆囊癌患者预后评价指标,有可能作为肿瘤微转移的诊断及免疫治疗的靶抗原。     

经皮经肝胆囊穿刺置管引流治疗合并肝硬化的急性胆囊炎

【摘要】〓目的〓探讨经皮经肝胆囊穿刺置管引流治疗对合并肝硬化门静脉高压症的急性胆囊炎患者的安全性及疗效。方法〓回顾性分析于2013年9月到2014年12月进行经皮经肝胆囊穿刺置管引流术治疗的合并肝硬化高压症急性胆囊炎患者12例。其中,肝功能Child-pugh A级7例,Child-pugh B级5例,分析12例患者经皮经肝穿刺胆囊置管引流术后并发症发生情况、术后炎症消退情况、术前后肝功能变化情况。结果〓12例患者均通过皮经肝胆囊穿刺置管引流术治疗后胆囊炎症消退,并择期成功行腹腔镜下胆囊切除术。其中,有2例患者因穿刺出现腹腔内出血,后经保守治疗后出血停止。无胆瘘发生。术后部分患者肝功能有所改善。结论〓经皮经肝穿刺胆囊置管引流治疗对合并肝硬化的急性胆囊炎是一种安全的治疗方法,可作为后续安全地施行腹腔镜下胆囊切除术的过渡。     

Bone metastases as the initial presentation of carcinoma of gall bladder: a rarity

Distant metastases are rare form of presentation of carcinoma gall bladder. Bony pain as initial presentation is quite unusual. A 50-year-old woman presented with the pain in right shoulder. Investigation showed metastatic adenocarcinoma in the head of humerus and the primary was found in the gall bladder. She received local radiotherapy for bone metastases and undergoing systemic chemotherapy. Carcinoma gall bladder is a common abdominal malignancy, mostly presenting in advanced stage with abdominal symptoms and obstructive jaundice. In presence of metastasis, the management is palliative and role of chemotherapy is limited for palliation symptoms.     

Acute torsion of the gall bladder in the aged: a re-emphasis on clinical diagnosis

Three cases of torsion of the gall bladder in the aged are presented. From a review of the clinical features of these cases and the cases reported in the literature, a definite clinical pattern emerged. The clinical features can be grouped into three triads: a triad of the patient's characteristics which consists of a thin, old patient with chronic chest disease or a deformed spine; a triad of symptoms which consists of typical abdominal pain, early onset of vomiting and a short history; and a triad of physical signs which consists of an abdominal mass, a lack of toxaemia or jaundice and a discrepancy in the pulse and temperature. If most, if not all, of these features are present, torsion of the gall bladder should be presented. We re-emphasize that a clinical suspicion or diagnosis of torsion of the gall bladder is possible. The treatment is early cholecystectomy.     

The standard of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Background

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy today is the standard operation for all gall stone disease. Nevertheless, a number of questions are still being discussed: What are the optimal steps? Or, more important, is the laparoscopic technique really superior to the open procedure according to the criteria of evidence-based medicine? How should we proceed in case of an occult choledocholithiasis? Is intraoperative cholangiography mandatory, and does the concept for the treatment of silent gall stones need to be revised in the era of laparoscopic cholecystectomy?

Method

Literature review.

Results

Eleven randomised studies show the superiority of the laparoscopic technique. Only one study shows no advantage provided the length of the incision in the open procedure is less than 8 cm. According to our own experience, up to 98% of all gall bladders can be removed laparoscopically when following the described standard technique, with a conversion rate of less than 1%. In the case of an occult choledocholithiasis the concept of “therapeutic splitting” has proved successful; the risk of a residual stone is below 1%. Routine intraoperative cholangiography is not cost effective. The risk of complications for a silent gall stone in the long term is higher than for laparoscopic cholecystectomy in young patients with incidental gall stones.

Conclusion

The laparoscopic technique has given new impulses to the surgery of the gall bladder and has proven to be an effective, patient-friendly alternative to open surgery.

     

Predicting iatrogenic gall bladder perforation during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a multivariate logistic regression analysis of risk factors

BACKGROUND: Seventeen independent risk factors were examined using multivariate logistic regression analysis to develop a profile of patients most likely at risk from iatrogenic gall bladder perforation (IGBP) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Since 1989, a prospectively maintained database on 856 (women, 659; men, 197) consecutive laparoscopic cholecystectomies by a single surgeon (R. J. F.) was analysed. The mean age was 48 years (range, 17-94 years). The mean operating time was 88 min (range, 25-375 min) and the mean postoperative stay was 1 day (range, 1-24 days). There were 311 (women, 214; men, 97) IGBP. Seventeen independent variables, which included sex, race, history of biliary colic, dyspepsia, history of acute cholecystitis, acute pancreatitis and jaundice, previous abdominal surgery, previous upper abdominal surgery, medical illness, use of intraoperative laser or electrodiathermy, performance of intraoperative cholangiogram, positive intraoperative cholangiogram, intraoperative common bile duct exploration, presence of a grossly inflamed gall bladder as seen by the surgeon intraoperatively and success of the operation, were analysed using multivariate logistic regression for predicting IGBP. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis against all 17 predictors was significant (chi(2) = 94.5, d.f. = 17, P = 0.0001), and the variables male sex, history of acute cholecystitis, use of laser and presence of a grossly inflamed gall bladder as seen by the surgeon intraoperatively were individually significant (P < 0.05) by the Wald chi(2)-test. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, using laser, in a male patient with a history of acute cholecystitis or during an acute attack of cholecystitis is associated with a significantly higher incidence of IGBP.     

Gall bladder cancer,extrahepatic bile duct cancer and ampullary carcinoma in New Zealand: Demographics,pathology and survival

Introduction: The aim of present paper was to document the incidence of gall bladder cancer, cancer of the extrahepatic bile ducts and ampullary carcinoma in New Zealand. Methods: Data were collected from the New Zealand Cancer Registry from 1980 to 1997 and combined with national census statistics to give crude and age standardized incidence rates. Results: Over the 18‐year study period, 226 carcinomas of the ampulla of Vater, 608 gall bladder cancers, and 486 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas were registered. The age standardized incidence rates for gall bladder carcinoma in all New Zealanders were 0.41/100 000 in men and 0.74/100 000 in women. The age standardized incidence rates for gall bladder cancer in Maori were 1.49/100 000 in Maori men and 1.59/100 000 in Maori women. The corresponding age standardized incidence rates for extrahepatic bile duct cancers were 0.67/100 000 in men and 0.45/100 000 in women. There were insufficient cases to calculate an age standardized incidence in Maori or Pacific Islanders. For carcinoma of the ampulla, the age standardized rates were 0.34/100 000 in men and 0.25/100 000 in women. There were insufficient cases to calculate an age standardized incidence rate for Maori or Pacific Islanders. When histology was defined adenocarcinoma was the most common form of cancer occurring in 66% of gall bladder cancers, 91% of extrahepatic bile duct cancers and 70% of ampullary cancers. Most tumours were advanced at presentation with regional or distant metastases present in 72% of gall bladder cancers, 63% of extrahepatic bile duct cancers and 69% of ampullary tumours at diagnosis. Survival was poor with median survivals of 86 days, 151 days and 440 days recorded for gall bladder cancer, extrahepatic bile duct cancer and ampullary cancer, respectively. Conclusions: The demographic profile, pathology and survival of patients with gall bladder cancer, extrahepatic bile duct cancer and ampullary carcinoma are similar in New Zealand to that of other Western countries. However New Zealand Maori have a relatively high incidence of gall bladder cancer, and the incidence is equal in both Maori men and women, while cancers of the extra­hepatic bile duct and ampulla of Vater are rare in Maori. In comparison, cancers of the gall bladder, extrahepatic bile ducts and ampulla are rare in Pacific Islanders.