FREQUENCY OF CARCINOMA OF GALL BLADDER IN PATIENTS WITH CHOLELITHIASIS

Background: To determine the frequency of carcinoma of gallbladder in patients with cholelithiasis.Material Methods: It was a descriptive study conducted at the Department of Pathology Peoples Medical College Nawabshah, from January 1985 to December 2004. During the above mentioned period 1138 specimens of cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis with cholecystitis were received, out of which 1109 were included in the study being 89.5% females and 10.5% were males. The clinical data, surgical pathology reports and haemotoxylin eosin stained slides were obtained from the record, all the cases were reviewed and results were tabulated.Results: No case presented with gallbladder mass. The commonest complaint was pain in epigastrium in 70% of cases. Carcinoma was found in 65 cases. The frequency of carcinoma of gallbladder was found in 5.9% of cases.Conclusion: Present study highlights the importance of careful gross and histopathologic evaluation of gallbladders otherwise removed with the history of chronic or acute cholecystitis. It is further concluded that the frequency of carcinoma of gallbladder is less common in this part of the country.