No evidence from randomised clinical trials for optimal treatment for gallbladder polyp

Gurusamy KS, Abu-Amara M, Farouk M, Davidson BR

Published Online:

January 21, 2009

The management of gallbladder polyp is controversial. Removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) for gallbladder polyps larger than 10 mm has been recommended because of the association between polyps larger than 10 mm and gallbladder cancer. Cholecystectomy is often recommended for patients with biliary type pain and polyps smaller than 10 mm. There has been no randomised clinical trial comparing cholecystectomy with observation for gallbladder polyps. Randomised clinical trials with low bias-risk (low likelihood of systematic error) are necessary to evaluate the role of cholecystectomy in gallbladder polyps smaller than 10 mm.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

The management of gallbladder polyps is controversial. Cholecystectomy has been recommended for gallbladder polyps larger than 10 mm because of the association with gallbladder cancer. Cholecystectomy has also been suggested for gallbladder polyps smaller than 10 mm in patients with biliary type of symptoms.

Objectives:

The aim of this review is to compare the benefits (relief of symptoms, decreased incidence of gallbladder cancer) and harms (surgical morbidity) of cholecystectomy in patients with gallbladder polyp(s).

Search strategy:

We searched The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group Controlled Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Science Citation Index Expanded until July 2008 to identify the randomised trials.

Selection criteria:

Only randomised clinical trials (irrespective of language, blinding, or publication status) comparing cholecystectomy and no cholecystectomy were considered for the review.

Data collection and analysis:

We planned to collect the data on the characteristics, methodological quality, mortality, number of patients in whom symptoms were improved or cured from the one identified trial. We planned to analyse the data using the fixed-effect and the random-effects models using RevMan Analysis. For each outcome we planned to calculate the risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals based on intention-to-treat analysis.

Main results:

We were unable to identify any randomised clinical trials comparing cholecystectomy versus no cholecystectomy in patients with a gallbladder polyp.

Authors' conclusions:

There are no randomised trials comparing cholecystectomy versus no cholecystectomy in patients with gallbladder polyps. Randomised clinical trials with low bias -risk are necessary to address the question of whether cholecystectomy is indicated in gallbladder polyps smaller than10 mm.

This record should be cited as:

Gurusamy KS, Abu-Amara M, Farouk M, Davidson BR. Cholecystectomy for gallbladder polyp. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD007052. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007052.pub2

Assessed as up to date:

July 10, 2008

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Primary Review Group:

Hepato-Biliary Group

Health topics:

Gastroenterology > Gall stone disease > Surgery

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

No evidence from randomised clinical trials for optimal treatment for gallbladder polyp

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