What measures prevent gallbladder polyps?

A 60-year-old female patient in Ho Chi Minh City has had anorexia and lower abdominal pain for a year. The doctor discovered that her gallbladder had dozens of polyps stuck together like stalactites.

Ultrasound results at Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City showed many polyps on the gallbladder wall, the largest of which was about 1 cm in size.

Illustration photo.

Dr. Pham Cong Khanh, Head of the Hepatobiliary - Pancreatic Department, Center for Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery of the Digestive System, said the female patient had multiple gallbladder polyps.

There are many types of gallbladder polyps such as cholesterol polyps, gallbladder adenomas, inflammatory polyps, and hypertrophic adenomatous polyps. About 95% of them are benign. Of these, cholesterol polyps account for the majority, about 40-70%, and are formed by cholesterol deposits adhering to the gallbladder mucosa.

Multiple, widespread polyps with stones like this patient have a high risk of developing into malignancy. Patients need early surgery to prevent dangerous complications such as bile stasis, digestive disorders, cholecystitis, cholangitis, and gallbladder cancer. This type of cancer has a poor prognosis because the 5-year survival rate is low.

The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. After endotracheal anesthesia, the doctor inserted an endoscope into the abdomen through 3 small holes and cut the gallbladder. The removed gallbladder had a thin wall and contained many polyps of various sizes. After surgery, the patient had no pain, could walk and eat well, and was discharged after one day. The surgical results showed that the polyp was benign cholesterol.

The cause of gallbladder polyps is still not exactly determined. Some factors that increase the risk include people over 50 years old, people with diabetes, abnormally large polyps, and gallstones.

Most gallbladder polyps are usually asymptomatic and are only discovered incidentally during routine health check-ups, ultrasound, MRI, and abdominal CT scans. Ultrasound is a non-invasive technique that is quick, painless, and safe with good sensitivity and specificity for gallbladder polyps.

Usually, gallbladder polyps less than 1 cm in size will not change after many years, the patient only needs to have regular follow-up check-ups. Polyp removal surgery is indicated in cases of polyps 1 cm or larger in size or sessile polyps 0.6 cm or larger or polyps 0.6 cm or larger in people over 50 years old.

The cause of gallbladder polyps is still not exactly determined. Accordingly, the gallbladder is a pear-sized organ, located below the liver, which performs the function of storing and concentrating bile (bile salts, cholesterol, fats and bile pigments).

The body then uses bile to break down and absorb fats. Polyps may be more likely to form if fat breakdown does not occur properly.

Malignant gallbladder polyps are rare. However, some factors can increase the risk of formation, including people over 50 years old; people with diabetes; abnormally large polyps; people with gallstones; symptoms of gallbladder polyps...

Symptoms of gallbladder polyps are often nonspecific and obvious, many cases do not show any signs. Therefore, this lesion is often discovered by chance during examination. Some patients with polyps sometimes notice the following symptoms: vomiting, nausea.

Occasionally, pain in the lower abdomen due to cholesterol fragments separated from the mucosa, indigestion; jaundice. Polyps are sometimes identified through abdominal ultrasound, performed when the patient has pain in the right upper quadrant. In the absence of other abnormalities, gallbladder polyps are considered the source of biliary colic.

In addition, there was no difference in symptoms between patients with benign and malignant polyps. In a large retrospective analysis, gallbladder polyps were detected on abdominal ultrasound.

Results were as follows: 64% were diagnosed during treatment for an unrelated condition. 23% had unusual abdominal symptoms. 13% had elevated liver function tests.

Cholesterol polyps can separate and manifest clinically as gallstones, causing biliary colic, biliary obstruction, and even pancreatitis. In fact, there have been many reports showing that polyps cause non-calculous cholecystitis, and even massive bleeding.

Symptoms that may be associated with polyps such as cholesterol polyps, inflammatory polyps, or hyperplasia include indigestion, right upper quadrant pain, discomfort, etc.

To prevent gallbladder polyps, according to medical experts, people need to change their lifestyle and diet to help prevent the formation of gallbladder polyps, including avoiding fried or fatty foods; avoiding foods high in cholesterol and processed foods.

Avoid drinking high-fat milk and carbonated drinks. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Increase your intake of Omega-3 fatty acids. Add ginger and turmeric to your daily diet.

In addition, people need to have regular health check-ups once a year or when there are unusual symptoms. Early detection of gallbladder polyps helps monitor and have appropriate treatment, preventing dangerous complications.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/bien-phap-nao-phong-chong-polyp-tui-mat-d222361.html