Polyps in the gallbladder may not cause any symptoms. Depending on the type of polyps, they can be benign, be a sign of inflammation, or potentially lead to cancer.

Polyps are abnormal tissue growths.

Most people with gallbladder polyps do not experience symptoms. Doctors usually discover the polyps incidentally on ultrasound or CT scans.

Although some gallbladder polyps can develop into cancer, most are noncancerous.

This article discusses the symptoms and potential complications of gallbladder polyps. It also explains the association between gallbladder polyps and cancer and looks at the treatment options.

Ultrasound image of gallbladder polypsShare on Pinterest
An ultrasound view of the gallbladder showing a polyp inside it.
James Heilman, MD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Polyps can form in various parts of the body, including the gallbladder. A polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue. Some polyps are small, flat bumps, while others hang from tiny stalks.

Gallbladder polyps affect an estimated 4% to 7%Trusted Source of the population.

There are three main types of gallbladder polyps: pseudopolyps, inflammatory polyps, and true gallbladder polyps.

Pseudopolyps

Pseudopolyps, also known as cholesterol polyps, are the most common type, accounting for 60% to 90%Trusted Source of all gallbladder polyps. Pseudopolyps are noncancerous, cholesterol-filled growths.

Their presence sometimes indicates an underlying gallbladder issue, such as chronic cholecystitis, which is gallbladder inflammation. This inflammation occurs when the gallbladder does not empty sufficiently.

Inflammatory polyps

Inflammatory polyps account for about 10% of all gallbladder polyps. They indicate inflammation in the wall of the gallbladder.

Doctors usually find inflammatory polyps in people who have experienced cholecystitis more than once and in those who have acute biliary colic. Biliary colic can occur when a gallstone blocks the duct of the gallbladder, and it typically results in pain after eating.

Inflammatory polyps are not associated with gallbladder cancer.

True gallbladder polyps

True gallbladder polyps are rare and have the potential to become cancerous.

These polyps typically measure 5 to 20 millimeters (mm) in diameter. Any that are larger than 1 centimeter (cm) are more likelyTrusted Source to become cancerous. Polyps that are already malignant (cancerous) are typically larger than 2 cm.

When a person has larger polyps, a doctor may recommend removing the gallbladder.

Gallbladder polyps do not always cause symptoms. In many cases, doctors find them unexpectedly on ultrasound or CT scans.

However, gallbladder polyps can sometimes cause the following symptoms:

  • discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen
  • bloating
  • nausea
  • food intolerances

People with high levels of cholesterol or salts in their bile have an increased riskTrusted Source of developing gallbladder polyps. The liver produces bile and stores it in the gallbladder. The gallbladder’s main function is to help the body digest fat.

Gallbladder polyps are also associated with the formation of gallstones. Many people have both gallbladder polyps and gallstones.

The following health issues may increase a person’s risk of developing true gallbladder polyps:

  • familial polyposis, an inherited condition
  • Gardner syndrome, a type of familial polyposis
  • Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a genetic condition
  • hepatitis B, a viral infection that can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term)

Most gallbladder polyps are pseudopolyps or inflammatory polyps. These do not cause complications and are not associated with cancer.

However, doctors regularly monitor all gallbladder polyps, regardless of type. Gallbladder removal is necessary only if a person experiences symptoms or if a polyp grows larger than 1 cmTrusted Source. The most significant complication of true gallbladder polyps is gallbladder cancer.

The biopsy procedure that doctors sometimes use to confirm the diagnosis can also potentially cause complications, includingTrusted Source bleeding, infection, and the leaking of bile.

Only true gallbladder polyps are associated with cancer. Pseudopolyps and inflammatory gallbladder polyps have almost no risk of causing gallbladder cancer.

Nonetheless, doctors monitor all gallbladder polyps closely. Those that grow larger than 1 cm have a higher likelihood of becoming cancerous. When a person has a polyp of this size, the doctor will advise removing the gallbladder.

Doctors detect fewer than 10%Trusted Source of gallbladder cancer cases when they are in the early stages. They diagnose most cancerous gallbladder polyps at a more advanced stage.

The following table outlines the 5-year relative survival rate for gallbladder cancer, according to the American Cancer SocietyTrusted Source:

Stage5-year relative survival rate
localized69%
regional28%
distant3%
all stages combined20%

Factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing gallbladder cancer includeTrusted Source:

  • Older age: The average age of those who receive a diagnosis of gallbladder cancer is 72 years.
  • Obesity: Gallbladder cancer is more common in people with obesity.
  • Certain ethnicities: In the United States, gallbladder cancer more commonly affects Native Americans, Latin Americans, and Mexican Americans.
  • Certain geographical locations: Gallbladder cancer is more common in the following parts of the world than in the United States:
    • India
    • Pakistan
    • South American countries
    • Central European countries

Other risk factors include:

  • a family history of gallbladder cancer
  • a history of primary sclerosing cholangitis
  • a flat, or sessile, polyp, along with thickening of the gallbladder wall

Pseudopolyps and inflammatory polyps that are smaller than 1 cm and do not cause symptoms do not require treatment.

However, doctors routinely monitor all gallbladder polyps using ultrasound scans. The first scan usually takes place 6 months after the initial discovery of the polyp. Subsequent scans tend to occur at yearly intervals.

If a polyp has grown by 2 mm or more since the last checkup, a doctor will recommend surgical removal of the gallbladder, which is called a cholecystectomy.

There are two typesTrusted Source: open cholecystectomy and laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

During an open cholecystectomy, a surgeon removes the gallbladder via a large incision under the right side of the rib cage. During a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, they instead remove the gallbladder via small incisions in the abdomen.

Although gallbladder surgery typically has good outcomes, some complications are possible, including:

  • bile duct injuries
  • internal or external bleeding
  • abscesses under the liver

Currently, the only treatment option for gallbladder polyps is surgical removal. However, because people with high cholesterol have an increased riskTrusted Source of developing polyps, lowering the cholesterol levels in the blood may help prevent polyps from forming in the first place.

The American College of Cardiology and similar institutions recommendTrusted Source dietary changes for people with high cholesterol.

A low cholesterol diet includes plenty of the following foods:

  • vegetables
  • fruits
  • whole grains
  • legumes
  • low fat dairy
  • low fat poultry
  • fish
  • seafood
  • nontropical vegetable oils

People with high cholesterol should also limit their intake of:

  • sweets
  • sugar-sweetened beverages
  • red meats

Another way to lower cholesterol is through exercise. People should aim to exercise for a minimum of 40 minutesTrusted Source at least 3 times per week. The exercise should be aerobic and moderate to vigorous in intensity.

Some people may also need to take medication to help lower their cholesterol.

People with gallbladder polyps may not experience symptoms. Most gallbladder polyps are noncancerous, but they still require regular monitoring.

Surgery is necessary if polyps cause symptoms or are larger than 1 cm. Doctors also recommend surgery when a polyp has grown by 2 mm or more since a person’s previous checkup.

True gallbladder polyps are rare, but they can cause gallbladder cancer. The standard treatment is surgical removal of the gallbladder. Survival rates for people with this type of cancer are higher when doctors detect the cancer at an early stage.