Porcelain gallbladder is a condition where the gallbladder wall calcifies, becoming hard, brittle, and bluish in color, with a high risk of developing gallbladder cancer.
This article was professionally reviewed by MSc. Dr. Nguyen Kim Tan, Center for Endoscopy and Endoscopic Surgery of the Digestive System, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City.
The gallbladder wall may thicken unevenly, and the mucosa may partially or completely slough off if the wall is completely saturated with calcium. In cases of patchy calcification, the mucosa may become inflamed, increasing the risk of developing gallbladder cancer.
Porcelain gallbladders are rare, occurring in less than 1% of all cholecystectomy cases. Women over 60 years of age who have gallstones are at higher risk of developing porcelain gallbladders.
Porcelain gallbladders are asymptomatic and are often discovered incidentally during abdominal X-rays or CT scans. Initially, the condition appears as a small calcified plaque on the gallbladder wall, adhering to the mucosa. Subsequently, the calcification gradually replaces the entire gallbladder wall tissue with calcium.
The medical team at Tam Anh General Hospital during a surgery in December 2023. Photo: Provided by the hospital.
The incidence of porcelain gallbladders progressing to malignancy is approximately 5-22%. The mechanism of gallbladder calcification remains unclear, but it may result from obstruction of the cystic duct, leading to calcium salt deposition in the mucosa, or from chronic inflammation leading to hemorrhage, scarring, and calcification of the gallbladder wall, causing calcium salt deposition.
Chronic inflammation or the degenerative and regenerative processes within the gallbladder epithelium may act similarly to carcinogenic stimuli.
Porcelain gallbladders have a high risk of developing malignancy, and patients need surgical removal without delay.
The gallbladder wall can be calcified to varying degrees. The likelihood of malignant tumor formation in the gallbladder is higher if a portion of the calcification adheres to intact (undamaged) mucosa.
To prevent gallbladder problems, everyone should eat a healthy and balanced diet by consuming plenty of fiber from fruits and vegetables, healthy fats (which support stable gallbladder contraction), and avoiding excessive sugar, fried foods, and refined carbohydrates. Regular exercise is also important in reducing the risk of gallstone formation.
Le Thuy
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