The Role of EUS in the Differential Diagnosis of Polypoid Lesions of the Gallbladder: Update / 대한췌담도학회지

ABSTRACT

Although most gallbladder (GB) polyps are benign, some early carcinomas of the GB share the same appearance as benign polyps. Currently, GB polyps larger than 1 cm should be surgically removed because of the increased risk of malignancy. Distinguishing between nonneoplastic, neoplastic, and potentially malignant lesions is a major diagnostic dilemma, and the therapeutic options for these lesions remain controversial. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is considered to be superior to conventional US for imaging GB lesions, because EUS can provide highresolution images of small lesions with higher ultrasound frequencies. However, differential diagnosis remains difficult, especially for small GB polyps. Thus, various diagnostic methods using EUS have been introduced to overcome difficulty for differential diagnosis between neoplastic and non-neoplastic polyps. Contrastenhanced harmonic EUS is useful for observing microvascular patterns and additional enhancement images of GB polyps. This is needed a post-recording analysis due to a short enhancement time. Real-time color Doppler-EUS provides the Doppler flow of vessels without a time limit.