Management and follow-up of gallbladder polyps: Joint guidelines between the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR), European Association for Endoscopic Surgery and other Interventional Techniques (EAES), International Society of Digestive Surgery – European Federation (EFISDS) and European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE)

• Published in: European radiology 2017-09, Vol.27 (9), p.3856-3866
• Main Authors: Wiles, Rebecca, Thoeni, Ruedi F., Barbu, Sorin Traian, Vashist, Yogesh K., Rafaelsen, Søren Rafael, Dewhurst, Catherine, Arvanitakis, Marianna, Lahaye, Max, Soltes, Marek, Perinel, Julie, Roberts, Stuart Ashley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Cholangitis, Sclerosing - diagnosis; Cholangitis, Sclerosing - surgery; Cholecystectomy; Cholecystectomy - methods; Consensus; Diagnostic Radiology; Endoscopy; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gallbladder; Gallbladder Neoplasms - diagnosis; Gallbladder Neoplasms - ethnology; Gallbladder Neoplasms - surgery; Gastrointestinal; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms - surgery; Humans; Imaging; Incidental Findings; Internal Medicine; Interventional Radiology; Male; Management; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neuroradiology; Patients; Polyps; Polyps - diagnosis; Polyps - ethnology; Polyps - surgery; Radiography, Abdominal; Radiology; Risk Factors; Surgery; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound
• ISSN: 0938-7994; 1432-1084
• DOI: 10.1007/s00330-017-4742-y

Objectives The management of incidentally detected gallbladder polyps on radiological examinations is contentious. The incidental radiological finding of a gallbladder polyp can therefore be problematic for the radiologist and the clinician who referred the patient for the radiological examination. To address this a joint guideline was created by the European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR), European Association for Endoscopic Surgery and other Interventional Techniques (EAES), International Society of Digestive Surgery – European Federation (EFISDS) and European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE). Methods A targeted literature search was performed and consensus guidelines were created using a series of Delphi questionnaires and a seven-point Likert scale. Results A total of three Delphi rounds were performed. Consensus regarding which patients should have cholecystectomy, which patients should have ultrasound follow-up and the nature and duration of that follow-up was established. The full recommendations as well as a summary algorithm are provided. Conclusions These expert consensus recommendations can be used as guidance when a gallbladder polyp is encountered in clinical practice. Key Points • Management of gallbladder polyps is contentious • Cholecystectomy is recommended for gallbladder polyps >10 mm • Management of polyps