What causes gallbladder polyps?

Causes of Gallbladder Polyps

1. Chemical factors

Bile retention in the gallbladder, the high concentration of bile salts in it, or the reflux of pancreatic juice into the gallbladder, with active pancreatic enzymes, can stimulate the gallbladder wall to produce obvious inflammatory changes. In some severely dehydrated people, the increased concentration of bile salts in the bile can also cause acute cholecystitis and gallbladder polyps, which is the main cause of gallbladder polyps.

2. Infection factors

The invasion of gallbladder polyps by bacteria from systemic infection or local lesions through the blood, lymph, bile duct, intestines, or the spread of inflammation to adjacent organs, the invasion of parasites and the bacteria they bring with them, etc.

3. Obstructive factors

It is due to mechanical obstruction of the cystic duct or the neck of the gallbladder, which causes the gallbladder to swell and fill with concentrated bile, the high concentration of bile salts of which has a strong inflammatory effect. This is a common cause of gallbladder polyps.

Common symptoms of gallbladder polyps

1. Manifestations of symptomatic gallbladder polyps

Some gallbladder polyps will cause mild discomfort in the right upper abdomen, and biliary colic may occur when accompanied by gallstones. Some patients with gallbladder polyps will not experience symptoms similar to biliary colic when gallstones occur. Instead, the symptoms are relatively atypical, mostly manifested as mild discomfort in the right upper abdomen. Most patients with gallbladder polyps are unaware of this symptom, which creates a breeding ground for the occurrence of gallbladder cancer. In some cases, gallbladder polyps complicated by gallstones will increase the risk of gallbladder cancer. When gallbladder polyps are complicated by gallstones, they will manifest as persistent pain in the upper abdomen, which will worsen intermittently and radiate to the shoulders, back or chest, accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If there is also a biliary tract infection, chills, fever, and jaundice may occur.

2. Manifestations of asymptomatic gallbladder polyps

More than 85% of gallbladder polyps are asymptomatic and are discovered during routine physical examinations. It is important to note that the treatment of asymptomatic gallbladder polyps cannot be ignored, because most gallbladder polyps have no obvious symptoms during or even after canceration. One of the characteristics of gallbladder polyps is that they can become cancerous without being noticed.