[Gallbladder polyps: prevalence and risk factors]. / Gallenblasenpolypen: Prävalenz und Risikofaktoren.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of gallbladder polyps and possible risk factors in a random population sample of an urban population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 2099 subjects (1072 women, 1027 men; aged 19 - 65 years, mean age 42.1 (SD ± 12.8 years) were prospectively examined using ultrasound, a standardized questionnaire and laboratory studies. RESULTS: Gallbladder polyps were identified in 6.1 % (128 / 2099) of all subjects (women 6.1 % [63 / 1027]); men 6.1 % [65 / 1072]). Solitary polyps were found in 52.4 % (65 / 124), two polyps in 16.1 % (20 / 124), three polyps in 6.5 % (8 / 124), several polyps in 22.6 % (28 / 124) and multiple polyps in 2.4 % (3 / 124) of subjects. The mean polyp diameter was 4.7 mm (SD ± 2.2; range 2 - 20 mm). The polyp diameter was ≤ 7 mm in 94.5 % of subjects. The polyps were described as pedunculate in 82.3 % (102 / 124). The polyps were broad-based in 11.3 % of subjects (14 / 124; men 18 % women 4.8 %). The polyps were homogeneously echogenic in 100 % of cases and with irregular contours in only one male subject. Multiple logistic regression failed to demonstrate an influence on the increased occurrence of gallbladder polyps for the risk factors of male sex, age, body-mass index (BMI), alcohol, nicotine or caffeine consumption or diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of gallbladder polyps reported in the present study (6.1 %) is higher than figures previously published for populations in Germany or Europe. The majority of polyps were pedunculate and solitary. A typical risk factor profile for gallbladder polyps could not be identified in the present population sample.