Incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) is an unexpected finding when a cholecystectomy is performed upon a benign indication, and the use of routine or selective histological analysis of gallbladder specimen is still debated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the proportion of submitted gallbladder specimens for pathological investigation influences the proportion of IGBC found, and what possible factors preoperatively or perioperatively could influence the selection process. All cholecystectomies between January 2007 and September 2014 registered in the Swedish Registry of Gallstone Surgery and ERCP (GallRiks) were included. Proportion of histological analysis was divided into four subgroups (0-25%, amp;gt; 25-50%, amp;gt; 50-75%, amp;gt; 75-100%). A total of 81,349 cholecystectomies were registered, and 36,010 (44.3%) gallbladder specimens were sent for histological analysis. A total of 213 cases of IGBC were discovered, which constituted 0.26% of all cholecystectomies performed and 0.59% of the number of gallbladder specimens sent for histological analysis. Hospitals submitting amp;gt; 75-100% of the gallbladder specimens had significantly more IGBC/1000 cholecystectomies performed (p = 0.003). Hospitals with the most selective approach had a significantly higher proportion of IGBC/1000 gallbladders that were sent for histological analysis (p amp;lt; 0.001). Factors such as higher age (p amp;lt; 0.001), female gender (p = 0.048) and macroscopic cholecystitis (p amp;lt; 0.001) were more common in gallbladder specimens from hospitals that had a selective approach to histological analysis. A routine approach to histological analysis in cholecystectomies with a benign indication for surgery can uncover a higher proportion of IGBC cases. When a selective approach is used, risk factors should be taken into account.

Background. Gallbladder cancer is a rare neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis and correct treatment strategy is important. The aim of this study was to identify predictors for incidental gallbladder cancer. Methods. Data from cholecystectomies registered in the nationwide Swedish Register for Gallstone Surgery between 2007 and 2014 were analyzed for incidental gallbladder cancer. Exclusion criteria were patients with a gallbladder not sent for histopathology, preoperative suspicion of polyps/gallbladder cancer, and indication for operation for other reasons than gallstone disease. Predictive factors for incidental gallbladder cancer were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Results. A total of 86,154 procedures were registered in the Swedish Register for Gallstone Surgery. Of these, 36,355 patients were included in the analysis, and 215 of the included patients had incidental gallbladder cancer (0.59%). Mean age was 70 11 years for index cases and 54 16 years for the control group, and 80% of cases and 60% of controls were female. Predictors for incidental gallbladder cancer were older age (odds ratio = 1.08; P amp;lt; .001), female sex (odds ratio = 3.58; P amp;lt; .001), previous cholecystitis (odds ratio = 1.37; P = .045), and the combination of acute cholecystitis without jaundice (odds ratio = 1.39; P = .041) and jaundice without acute cholecystitis (odds ratio = 2.02; P = .009). A preoperative risk model including these factors gave an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.82. By adding macroscopic evaluation of the gallbladder by the surgeon, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve increased to 0.87. Intraoperatively suspected gallbladder cancer was confirmed as cancer in 31 % of the cases. Conclusion. Incidental gallbladder cancer is more likely to be diagnosed in older patients, women, and after previous cholecystitis. Jaundice and acute cholecystitis were also shown to be important risk factors. Intraoperative inspection of the gallbladder improved the risk model.

Background Incidental gallbladder cancer is a rare event, and its prognosis is largely affected by the tumour stage and treatment. The aim of this study was to analyse the management, treatment and survival of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer in a national cohort over a decade. Methods Patients were identified through the Swedish Registry of Gallstone Surgery (GallRiks). Data were cross-linked to the national registry for liver surgery (SweLiv) and the Cancer Registry. Medical records were collected if registry data were missing. Survival was measured as disease-specific survival. The study was divided into two intervals (2007-2011 and 2012-2016) to evaluate changes over time. Results In total, 249 patients were identified with incidental gallbladder cancer, of whom 92 (36 center dot 9 per cent) underwent re-resection with curative intent. For patients with pT2 and pT3 disease, median disease-specific survival improved after re-resection (12 center dot 4 versus 44 center dot 1 months for pT2, and 9 center dot 7 versus 23 center dot 0 months for pT3). Residual disease was present in 53 per cent of patients with pT2 tumours who underwent re-resection; these patients had a median disease-specific survival of 32 center dot 2 months, whereas the median was not reached in patients without residual disease. Median survival increased by 11 months for all patients between the early and late periods (P = 0 center dot 030). Conclusion Re-resection of pT2 and pT3 incidental gallbladder cancer was associated with improved survival, but survival was impaired when residual disease was present. A higher re-resection rate and more R0 resections in the later time period may have been associated with improved survival.