A 50-year-old woman is found to have a 2.8 cm incidental gallbladder polyp on ultrasound. She has no symptoms and no cholelithiasis. The most appropriate management is:
- A Cholecystectomy ✓
- B Repeat ultrasound in 6 months
- C Endoscopic ultrasound to characterise the polyp
- D CT abdomen to assess lymphadenopathy
Correct answer: A. Cholecystectomy
Explanation
Gallbladder polyps ≥1 cm carry a significant risk of being adenomatous and potentially malignant (gallbladder adenocarcinoma). The threshold for cholecystectomy is a polyp ≥10 mm (some guidelines 6 mm with risk factors). A 2.8 cm polyp far exceeds this threshold and mandates cholecystectomy. Watchful waiting with ultrasound surveillance is reserved for polyps <6 mm.
Reference: Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.