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Gallbladder Polyps & Tumours

Gallbladder polyps and tumours are irregular cell growths from the gallbladder’s internal mucous membrane. There are several distinct types of Gallbladder Polyps made of various materials. Although they are often benign, they may indicate the presence of another gallbladder disorder. Occasionally, they could lead to issues like inflammation, and approximately 5% of them might develop into malignancies or tumours.

Gallbladder polyps that develop more than 1 cm in diameter length have the potential of turning and developing into Gallbladder tumours. While Gallbladder Polyps are not cancerous initially, leaving them untreated for too long can turn them into Gallbladder tumours and ultimately cancer.

Symptoms

Most of the time, gallbladder polyps are symptomless. Usually, they are found by chance. A small percentage of polyps may result in symptoms if they clog the cystic duct and the bile duct, two passages that diverge from the gallbladder.

Gallbladder wall inflammation can result from cystic duct polyps that grow and hinder the passage of bile into the gallbladder. Inflammatory symptoms of Gallbladder polyps can include:

  • Ache in the abdomen
  • Fever
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Jaundice

Additionally, a Gallbladder tumour can also not have any symptoms initially, but over time, it can cause the symptoms mentioned above, as well as:

  • Abdominal lumps
  • Bloating

Causes

Inflammatory and cholesterol polyps are consequences of other illnesses and are not real growths. Inflammatory polyps are produced by cholecystitis, while cholesterol polyps are produced by cholesterolosis. Most gallbladder polyps fall into two categories. Contrary to gallstones, the causes of gallbladder polyps are poorly studied or understood. You may be more prone to developing polyps if your gallbladder is ineffective at breaking down the fat. Subsequently, Gallbladder tumours directly result from untreated gallbladder polyps and cholesterol polyps.

Risk Factors

Pseudo polyps or inflamed polyps constitute the vast majority of gallbladder polyps. They have no side effects and are unrelated to cancer. No matter what kind of gallbladder polyps exist, medical professionals continuously monitor them. Only in cases where a polyp grows to a size of 1 cm or when patients have symptoms is the gallbladder removed due to gallbladder cancer. Gallbladder cancer is the most serious side effect of gallbladder polyps and tumours.  A person is more likely to have Gallbladder Polyps & Tumours if they already have the following conditions:

  • High cholesterol
  • Hepatitis B
  • Cholangitis
  • Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
  • Cholecystitis
  • Gallstones
  • Are over 50 years of age
  • Familial Adenomatous Polyposis

Treatment & Prevention

Surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most prevalent option for gallbladder polyps and tumours. Surgery is possible if the gallbladder polyp is wider than a half-inch and a tumour is formed. It assists with enhancing your diet whether or not you have surgery. You can avoid fatty and high-cholesterol foods by doing this. Adding additional fruits and vegetables to your diet is another option. There are two kinds of Gallbladder Polyps & Tumours surgeries: Open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

  1. In open cholecystectomy, the surgeon removes the gallbladder through a sizable incision made underneath the right side of a rib cage.
  2. For a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the gallbladder is removed through tiny abdominal incisions.

As Gallbladder Polyps & Tumours are produced through higher levels of cholesterol in the body, it is advisable to follow a healthy diet to prevent cholesterol build-up and excess. Following a low-cholesterol diet and having an active lifestyle can prevent Gallbladder Polyps & Tumours.

Additionally, getting yourself regularly checked by a healthcare professional can help prevent many symptoms and risks of Gallbladder Polyps & Tumours.

 
 
 

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