Retrospective histopathologic findings of routine cholecystectomy specimens in a teaching hospital in North East India

BACKGROUND: Cholecystectomy is one of the most common general surgical operations performed worldwide. Limited data is available about the histopathological diagnoses of various gallbladder diseases in North Eastern part of India even though a higher incidence of gallbladder cancer has been reported from this part of the Country. Hence, a retrospective review of the histopathological findings of routine cholecystectomy specimens was done to assess the incidence of gallbladder cancer and other gallbladder pathologies. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of gallbladder cancer and other pathologic findings in routine cholecystectomy specimens. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study of the histopathological findings of cholecystectomy specimens with presumed benign gallbladder diseases who had undergone cholecystectomy from June 2013 till October 2021. RESULTS: A total of 1683 patients had undergone cholecystectomy during the study period. In total, 1354 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 339 patients underwent open cholecystectomy. Gallstones were present in 1631 patients. Chronic cholecystitis and cholesterosis were the most common histopathologic findings, followed by pyloric metaplasia. Unsuspected gallbladder cancer was detected in eight patients (0.48%). CONCLUSION: Chronic cholecystitis was the most common histopathologic finding followed by pyloric metaplasia. Gallstones were found in most patients. Incidental gallbladder cancer was detected in 0.48% of patients.