Specialist in General Surgery
Condition
Gallbladder Polyps
Gallbladder polyps are small growths of tissue that form inside the gallbladder. They are relatively common and don’t usually cause any symptoms.
However, some polyps may become cancerous or cause inflammation in the gallbladder if they block a duct in the organ.
The gallbladder is a small sack located just beneath the liver on the right of the abdomen. The gallbladder stores and releases bile produced from the liver to the other digestive organs. Bile is needed to break down the fats in your digestive system.
Schedule an Appointment
Concerned about your symptoms or condition? Book a consultation to get clarity and tailored care.
While the growth of certain gallbladder polyps is not always known, some may develop it due to high cholesterol levels. Other times, gallbladder polyps may develop from an inflammation in the gallbladder or the formation of gallstones.
You are more at risk of developing polyps in your gallbladder if you have any of these health issues:
Cholesterolosis: These polyps form from the deposit of cholesterol lipids due to a condition called cholesterolosis. These polyps do not become cancerous.
Inflammatory polyps: These polyps are caused by an inflammation in the gallbladder wall. It is common among those that suffer from cholecystitis or when a gallstone blocks a bile duct. Inflammatory polyps are benign and non-cancerous.
Adenomyomatosis: These polyps are benign tissue growths found on the gallbladder walls. They are non-cancerous, and their cause of growth is still unknown.
Adenomas: Adenomas are non-cancerous tumours that may form in the biliary tract and usually occur in those that suffer from gallstones. They also have a possibility of becoming cancerous.
Malignant polyps: These are growths that contain cancer cells and can grow larger than 2 centimetres in diameter.
Gallbladder polyps are relatively common but rarely become cancerous, with 95% of polyps remaining benign. Polyps larger than half an inch are more likely to become cancerous and should be monitored.
Doctors can only identify cancerous polyps by removing the entire gallbladder. Doctors will first monitor the size of the polyp through screening tests to recognise any cancer risk factor. Your doctor may recommend removing your gallbladder if they identify any polyp larger than 1 cm, as it is more likely to be cancerous.
Most polyps will not grow more than 2 millimetres a year. However, malignant polyps may grow at a faster rate. These polyps are cancerous, and your doctor may recommend removing your gallbladder as a treatment plan if a polyp is growing too fast.
Most gallbladder polyps don’t usually cause any symptoms. Most of the time, they are discovered during an unrelated CT scan or ultrasound. However, some may experience pain and discomfort if a polyp blocks a bile duct and causes inflammation in the gallbladder wall.
Some symptoms include:
In certain cases, these symptoms may also signify gallbladder cancer.
Most polyps in the gallbladder are identified during an unrelated examination. For further testing, your doctor may opt for a non-invasive abdominal ultrasound or an endoscopy ultrasound to identify your polyp type.
Abdominal ultrasound: An abdominal ultrasound is an imaging test that presses an ultrasound device to your abdomen with a gel. The device is moved around to capture images of your organs and the blood vessels in the gallbladder.
Endoscopy ultrasound: An endoscopy ultrasound is a minimally invasive imaging test that inserts an imaging device into the digestive tract. This device can capture images of the internal organs and the wall lining to locate the polyps and assess possible signs of cancerous polyps. The procedure may require fasting and clearing of the bowel tract. Anaesthesia or a sedative may be used.
A polyp in the gallbladder can only be removed by taking out the entire gallbladder. Most gallbladder polyps are not harmful and do not require removal. Your doctor will assess your symptoms and the size of the polyps before deciding to remove them.
Polyps that are causing discomfort and inflammation are recommended to be removed. Any growing polyps larger than 1 cm may be indicators of cancerous cells. Your doctor may recommend removing your gallbladder in these situations.
Polyps in the gallbladder do not disappear on their own. The only way to remove them is through surgery and removing the entire gallbladder to prevent possible diseases.
Depending on your symptoms, the size of the polyps and the results from your diagnostic tests, your doctor may recommend several treatment options. If a polyp needs to be removed, a surgical procedure is needed to remove the entire gallbladder.
Monitor: For polyps that are less than 1cm in size, your doctor will monitor the growth through annual scans. There is no need for a surgical procedure for smaller polyps unless they grow in size over the years.
Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery (Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy): If your polyp is causing symptoms, is growing in size or is diagnosed as cancerous, your doctor will may opt for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy to remove your gallbladder. This is a minimally invasive procedure that removes your gallbladder through a few small incisions. A tiny camera is inserted into one of the incisions to locate the gallbladder, and the organ is then removed through another incision. This procedure has a shorter recovery time and fewer complications.
Open cholecystectomy: If cancer cells in your malignant polyp have spread to other tissues outside the gallbladder, a more invasive surgical procedure will be required. The doctor will make a larger incision under the right side of the rib cage to remove the gallbladder and other affected tissues. This procedure has a longer recovery time.
You can lead a normal life after removing your gallbladder. Your liver will continue to produce bile and transport it straight to your digestive tract instead.
You should still maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle and look out for any foods that could cause bloating and avoid them in the future.
Is Gallbladder Polyp Common?
Gallbladder polyps are fairly common and most of them are benign. In rare cases, these polyps may become cancerous.
Can A Gallbladder Polyp Burst?
It is extremely rare for a polyp to rupture.
Can You Live With A Gallbladder Polyp?
Most gallbladder polyps are harmless and do not need to be removed unless they show signs of inflammation or cancerous growth. It is possible to live with benign gallbladder polyps without having to remove them.
Dr Ganesh at G & L Surgical Clinic strives to prioritise his patients’ recovery and comfort. Having had adequate experience in performing gallbladder polyps removal surgeries for numerous patients for many years in Singapore.
Furthermore, the staff at G & L Surgical Clinic have been thoroughly and adequately trained to make your experience a comfortable and hassle-free one. Whether you intend to undergo our undergo our gallbladder polyps treatments, procedures or other medical services in Singapore, you can rest assured that you will be properly and sufficiently cared for by trained professionals.
Organise a consultation with our surgeons for further assistance on gallbladder treatments in Singapore.
