Risk Factors for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Found During Cholecystectomy for Cholelithiasis: A Case–Control Study

Background and Aims: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare type of cancer with a high rate of cancer-related mortality because it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage; however, it may also be incidentally detected postcholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. We aimed to identify risk factors for GBC in...

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Main Authors: Christina Liava, Patrick Starlinger, Patrick S. Kamath, Moira B. Hilscher
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Gastro Hep Advances
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772572325000421
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author Christina Liava
Patrick Starlinger
Patrick S. Kamath
Moira B. Hilscher
author_facet Christina Liava
Patrick Starlinger
Patrick S. Kamath
Moira B. Hilscher
author_sort Christina Liava
collection DOAJ
description Background and Aims: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare type of cancer with a high rate of cancer-related mortality because it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage; however, it may also be incidentally detected postcholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. We aimed to identify risk factors for GBC incidentally found during cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. Methods: We performed a case–control study including patients with histologically confirmed GBC incidentally found during cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis and controls who underwent cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. Patient and control data were collected retrospectively using the electronic patient database. Risk factors were identified using logistic regression analysis. Results: In total, 76 GBC patients and 1065 controls were included in the study. Among GBC patients, 65.8% presented acutely, 30.3% had chronic biliary symptoms, 0.3% were asymptomatic, and 43.4% had known cholelithiasis before symptoms. On multivariate analysis, when compared with controls, GBC was significantly associated with female gender (80.3% vs 56.7% controls, P < .001), age ≥ 68 years (86.8% vs 48.4%, P < .001), gallstone size ≥1.70 cm (73.2% vs 28.2% controls, P < .001), ascending cholangitis (12.5% vs 4.1%, P < .001), anemia prior to cholecystectomy (33.3% vs 13.9%, P < .001), and duration of cholelithiasis ≥5 years (31.6% vs 10.2%, P = .011). These factors were included in a predictive model that was validated in internal and independent datasets with a sensitivity of 87%, specificity of 59%, and accuracy of 73%. Conclusion: In this case–control study, 5 independent risk factors were identified for early detection of asymptomatic individuals with cholelithiasis at high risk of harboring GBC that might benefit from cholecystectomy. High clinical suspicion for GBC improves the management of patients with cholelithiasis through advanced imaging work-up and appropriate surgical approach, avoiding reoperations.
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spelling doaj-art-e9c50d90526d4bdeafb339c66ef6b6e02025-08-20T03:16:08ZengElsevierGastro Hep Advances2772-57232025-01-014610065510.1016/j.gastha.2025.100655Risk Factors for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Found During Cholecystectomy for Cholelithiasis: A Case–Control StudyChristina Liava0Patrick Starlinger1Patrick S. Kamath2Moira B. Hilscher3Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MinnesotaHepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgeon Department, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MinnesotaDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MinnesotaDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, Minnesota; Correspondence: Address correspondence to: Moira B. Hilscher, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, Minnesota 55905.Background and Aims: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a rare type of cancer with a high rate of cancer-related mortality because it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage; however, it may also be incidentally detected postcholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. We aimed to identify risk factors for GBC incidentally found during cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. Methods: We performed a case–control study including patients with histologically confirmed GBC incidentally found during cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis and controls who underwent cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis. Patient and control data were collected retrospectively using the electronic patient database. Risk factors were identified using logistic regression analysis. Results: In total, 76 GBC patients and 1065 controls were included in the study. Among GBC patients, 65.8% presented acutely, 30.3% had chronic biliary symptoms, 0.3% were asymptomatic, and 43.4% had known cholelithiasis before symptoms. On multivariate analysis, when compared with controls, GBC was significantly associated with female gender (80.3% vs 56.7% controls, P < .001), age ≥ 68 years (86.8% vs 48.4%, P < .001), gallstone size ≥1.70 cm (73.2% vs 28.2% controls, P < .001), ascending cholangitis (12.5% vs 4.1%, P < .001), anemia prior to cholecystectomy (33.3% vs 13.9%, P < .001), and duration of cholelithiasis ≥5 years (31.6% vs 10.2%, P = .011). These factors were included in a predictive model that was validated in internal and independent datasets with a sensitivity of 87%, specificity of 59%, and accuracy of 73%. Conclusion: In this case–control study, 5 independent risk factors were identified for early detection of asymptomatic individuals with cholelithiasis at high risk of harboring GBC that might benefit from cholecystectomy. High clinical suspicion for GBC improves the management of patients with cholelithiasis through advanced imaging work-up and appropriate surgical approach, avoiding reoperations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772572325000421Incidental Gallbladder CancerCholelithiasisRisk Factors
spellingShingle Christina Liava
Patrick Starlinger
Patrick S. Kamath
Moira B. Hilscher
Risk Factors for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Found During Cholecystectomy for Cholelithiasis: A Case–Control Study
Gastro Hep Advances
Incidental Gallbladder Cancer
Cholelithiasis
Risk Factors
title Risk Factors for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Found During Cholecystectomy for Cholelithiasis: A Case–Control Study
title_full Risk Factors for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Found During Cholecystectomy for Cholelithiasis: A Case–Control Study
title_fullStr Risk Factors for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Found During Cholecystectomy for Cholelithiasis: A Case–Control Study
title_full_unstemmed Risk Factors for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Found During Cholecystectomy for Cholelithiasis: A Case–Control Study
title_short Risk Factors for Incidental Gallbladder Cancer Found During Cholecystectomy for Cholelithiasis: A Case–Control Study
title_sort risk factors for incidental gallbladder cancer found during cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis a case control study
topic Incidental Gallbladder Cancer
Cholelithiasis
Risk Factors
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772572325000421
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