Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gallbladder Polypoid Lesions in a Healthy Population

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of and investigate the risk factors for gallbladder (GB) polypoid lesions in a healthy population.
Materials and methods: A total of 23827 subjects who underwent abdominal ultrasonography in conjunction with health screening examinations were retrospectively analyzed. The prevalence of risk factors for GB polypoid lesions were evaluated. In addition, risk factors according to the number of polypoid lesions and the presence of stones with polypoid lesions were investigated. To analyze these risk factors, a control group was established with a 1:2 ratio matched for age and sex.
Results: The prevalence of GB polypoid lesions was identified as 9.96%. On multivariate analysis, chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) and the presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) were risk factors for GB polypoid lesions. CHB and MS were also significant independent risk factors for multiple GB polypoid lesions when compared with solitary GB polypoid lesions. In addition, gastric Helicobacter pylori infection and MS were significant risk factors for GB polypoid lesions with stones when compared with GB polypoid lesions without stones.
Conclusion: The prevalence of GB polypoid lesions in a healthy Korean population was 9.96%. Patients with CHB and MS need to be carefully examined for such lesions.