Incidental gallbladder carcinoma in laparoscopic cholecystectomy: Five years local experience

Background: Carcinoma of the gallbladder is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract. Most of the cases are diagnosed as an incidental case among patients undergoing cholecystectomy. The objectives of this study were to report the rate of incidental carcinoma of gallbladder in patients undergoing cholecystectomy and to study the demographic profile and prognosis of these patients in our locality. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in our general hospital during 2007-2012. The hospital records and histopathology reports of 1982 patients who had undergone elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were studied. Results: Out of 1982 cases of cholecystectomy, gallbladder cancer was detected in 10 (0.5%) cases and was more common in females (M:F ratio = 2:8) .The mean age of occurrence was 73.6 years. Most of the cases diagnosed, were at their early stages and only two of them were in pT3 pathological stage. Five of those patients survived to date with a mean follow up duration of 26 months. Conclusion: The rate of incidental carcinoma of gallbladder is 0.5% in our locality and nearly half of patients were early stage with acceptable five year survival rates. Routine postoperative histopathology of gall bladder is mandatory.