Your gallbladder is a small organ the stores bile to aid in digestion, and when everything is working fine, you probably don’t give it a second thought. Gallstones are the most common problem that develop with your gallbladder, but another potential issue is the growth of a gallbladder polyp.
Gallbladder polyps are small, abnormal growths with a stalk that protrudes from the lining of the inside of the gallbladder. They are fairly common, and in fact, most people that have them don’t know they exist because they are asymptomatic. However, if they begin to cause problems or grow to a certain size, they need to be examined, as they could be a sign of cancer. Below, we take a closer look at gallbladder polyps and how they are best treated.
Gallbladder Polyp Size
Polyp size is often the best indicator of whether or not the growth is cancerous.
- Less than ½ inch in diameter – These are considered small gallbladder polyps. In the vast majority of cases, they are benign and do not require treatment. Thankfully, these are also the most common form of polyp.
- Between ½ inch to ¾ inch in diameter – These are a little more likely to either be cancerous or become cancerous. Treatment varies from testing to watchful waiting, to surgery.
- Greater than ¾ inch in diameter – These have a high probability of being cancerous, and treatment is more aggressive.
Symptoms of a gallbladder polyp include pain and discomfort in the upper right part of your abdomen, nausea and occasional vomiting. Most patients dealing with small polyps do not experience any of the above symptoms.
Gallbladder Polyp Diagnosis and Treatment
As you might have guessed, since most people don’t experience any symptoms, polyps are often discovered when a doctor is examining you for an unrelated condition or illness. However, if you have symptoms or your doctor wants to check for the presence of polyps, they may look for the growth using an abdominal ultrasound or an endoscopic ultrasound.
Treatment depends on the size of the polyp. If there are concerns over whether or not it is cancerous, the doctor may conduct some tests, like a biopsy or blood test, to determine if it is cancerous. In some cases, if the growth is large enough, doctors will remove it without first conducting a biopsy, as there’s a chance that piercing the growth could cause cancer cells to spread.
For small polyps, treatment usually just involves ultrasound monitoring to ensure it’s not growing. For larger polyps, a cholecystectomy may be performed. Since the gallbladder is a non-essential organ, it is easier to remove the whole gallbladder than to try and safely remove the polyps.
