Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for porcelain gallbladder
Puia, I.C.; Vlad, L.; Iancu, C.; Al-Hajjar, N.; Pop, F.; Bălă, O.; Munteanu, D.
Chirurgia 100(2): 187-189
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 1221-9118 PMID: 15957463 Document Number: 587670
The porcelain gallbladder is uncommon type of chronically inflamed gallbladder wall considered to be associated with a high frequency of adenocarcinoma and subsequently not suitable for a laparoscopic approach. In 12,000 patients chosen for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy 4 porcelain gallbladders were diagnosed. In 2 cases the laparoscopic approach was successful. One conversion was due to an unconfirmed suspicion of gallbladder cancer and the other one to a fistula between the gallbladder and the common bile duct. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of porcelain gallbladder must not be excluded from the laparoscopic approach yet a low threshold for conversion must be maintained in those with a cancer suspicion.