Incidental gallbladder cancer: what is the prevalence and how do we perform cholecystectomy for presumably benign biliary disease?

OBJECTIVE: to determine the prevalence of incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) in cholecystectomies performed in a tertiary public hospital and to describe technical and epidemiological aspects of performing cholecystectomies for presumably benign disease. METHOD: descriptive, retrospective observational study, based on analysis of medical records of patients undergoing cholecystectomy with preoperative hypothesis of benign disease between January 2018 and January 2022. RESULTS: prevalence of gallbladder adenocarcinoma in our sample was 0.16%, similar to data in the literature. Technical aspects during cholecystectomy were also described with a frequency similar to that found in the literature. CONCLUSION: despite a rare disease, IGBC is relevant in the routine of the General Surgeon. Its diagnosis, staging and treatment directly affect the prognosis. Technical aspects during cholecystectomy are not always remembered by surgeons and can interfere with the prognosis and subsequent treatment of the patient.

Incidental gallbladder cancer: what is the prevalence and how do we perform cholecystectomy for presumably benign biliary disease? / Câncer incidental de vesícula biliar: qual a prevalência e como operamos a colecistectomia por doença presumidamente benigna?

ABSTRACT Objective: to determine the prevalence of incidental gallbladder cancer (IGBC) in cholecystectomies performed in a tertiary public hospital and to describe technical and epidemiological aspects of performing cholecystectomies for presumably benign disease. Method: descriptive, retrospective observational study, based on analysis of medical records of patients undergoing cholecystectomy with preoperative hypothesis of benign disease between January 2018 and January 2022. Results: prevalence of gallbladder adenocarcinoma in our sample was 0.16%, similar to data in the literature. Technical aspects during cholecystectomy were also described with a frequency similar to that found in the literature. Conclusion: despite a rare disease, IGBC is relevant in the routine of the General Surgeon. Its diagnosis, staging and treatment directly affect the prognosis. Technical aspects during cholecystectomy are not always remembered by surgeons and can interfere with the prognosis and subsequent treatment of the patient.

RESUMO Objetivos: determinar a prevalência de câncer incidental de vesícula biliar (CIVB) em colecistectomias realizadas em um hospital público terciário e descrever aspectos técnicos e epidemiológicos na realização de colecistectomias por doença presumidamente benigna. Método: estudo observacional descritivo, retrospectivo, a partir da análise de prontuários de pacientes submetidos à colecistectomia com hipótese pré-operatória de doença benigna entre janeiro de 2018 e janeiro de 2022. Resultados: a prevalência de adenocarcinoma de vesícula biliar na amostra avaliada foi de 0,16%, semelhante aos dados da literatura mundial. Os aspectos técnicos durante a realização da colecistectomia também foram descritos com frequência semelhante ao encontrado na literatura. Conclusão: o CIVB é uma doença rara mas de importância relevante na rotina do Cirurgião Geral. Seu diagnóstico, estadiamento e tratamento implicam diretamente no prognóstico. Aspectos técnicos durante a realização da colecistectomia nem sempre são lembrados pelos cirurgiões e podem interferir no prognóstico e tratamento subsequente do paciente.