Reconsidering Routine Histopathological Examination of Gallbladder Specimens in Cholecystectomy: Optimizing Clinical Practice and Resource Management.

Autor: Jamal Z; Department of Surgery, Redland Hospital, Bayside Health Service, Redland, AUS., Yu Z; Department of Surgery, Redland Hospital, Bayside Health Service, Redland, AUS., Zafar N; Department of Surgery, Redland Hospital, Bayside Health Service, Redland, AUS., Li D; Department of Surgery, Redland Hospital, Bayside Health Service, Redland, AUS.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Cureus [Cureus] 2024 Jul 17; Vol. 16 (7), pp. e64762. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 17 (Print Publication: 2024).
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.64762
Abstrakt: Introduction Cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder, is a common procedure worldwide. Despite no visible anomalies, routine histopathological examination (HPE) of gallbladder specimens post-surgery is standard practice to exclude pathologies, notably gallbladder cancer (GBC). Incidence rates of GBC vary geographically and ethnically. Surgical intervention is recommended for advanced GBC stages, while early stages may require cholecystectomy alone. Although rare, GBC and bile duct cancers pose increased risks in certain demographics, such as women and individuals over 65. Routine HPE practices vary globally based on resource availability and GBC incidence. This study assesses the necessity of routine HPE by evaluating the selective processing of gallbladder specimens suspected of GBC, prioritizing patient safety. Materials and methods This retrospective cohort study conducted at Redland Hospital, a district general hospital in Australia, investigated the necessity of routine HPE for excised gallbladder specimens. Adhering to routine HPE policy, the study encompassed all elective and emergency cholecystectomies performed from January 2023 to December 2023, excluding pediatric cases, concurrent surgical procedures, and those with suspected malignancy. Demographic data, surgery indications, intraoperative findings, histopathological results, and incidental gallbladder cancer (IGC) outcomes were analyzed. Pathology reports and case documentation were reviewed for cancerous pathology indicators. Results Over the one-year study period from January 2023 to December 2023, a total of 266 gallbladder specimens were subjected to HPE post-cholecystectomy. Of these, 201 were female and 65 were male, yielding a male-to-female ratio of 3:1. Elective cholecystectomy was performed on 56.4% (150) of patients, while 43.6% (116) underwent emergency procedures. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was the primary surgical approach, except for one case requiring conversion to an open procedure. None of the patients exhibited GBC; however, 3.3% (9) displayed premalignant histopathological features in their specimens. Conclusion In conclusion, adopting a selective approach, where only gallbladder specimens with macroscopic abnormalities undergo HPE, seems prudent, especially in regions with low GBC incidence. Our study, which revealed no cases of GBC, supports this approach. It not only reduces the risk of missing incidental carcinoma in clinically unsuspected cases but also proves cost-effective and reduces the histopathology department workload without compromising patient outcomes. Therefore, we advocate for routine macroscopic examination of gallbladder specimens for abnormalities before HPE submission, particularly in cholecystectomy patients with gallstone disease.
Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.
(Copyright © 2024, Jamal et al.)
Databáze: MEDLINE