Cholesterol polyp of the gallbladder: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Under the influence of various adverse factors in the cavity of the gallbladder, the process of formation of cholesterol polyps starts. These are neoplasms of a benign nature, which, with timely detection, successfully resolve against the background of conservative treatment. Nevertheless, it is important to know that cholesterol polyps of the gallbladder are growths that contribute to disruption of the digestive process. Ignoring the pathological condition leads to serious complications.

Pathogenesis

The gall bladder is a small organ whose capacity is about 80 ml. Its main task is the accumulation of hepatic secretion. In addition, it directs the amount of bile needed for food processing into the intestines.

The walls of the organ are represented by smooth muscles. She, in turn, if necessary is reduced and pushes bile out of the cavity of the bubble. Hepatic secretion enters the small intestine through the sphincter of Oddi. There, bile is directly involved in the breakdown of fats, in addition, it helps them to be absorbed into the blood.

Under the influence of various adverse factors, the body accumulates "bad" cholesterol. Some of its amount is absorbed by the tissues, another part settles on the walls of the gallbladder. First, excess cholesterol is cleaved by macrophages. Similarly, the gallbladder tries to prevent the appearance of foreign inclusions in it.

Some people have so much cholesterol in their body that macrophages cannot break it down. The tissues of the organ are literally saturated with fat, and he, in turn, continues to enter the gall bladder. Excess cholesterol is deposited on the walls. Over time, they begin to bulge. Soon, the process of formation of cholesterol polyps of the gallbladder starts (photo of neoplasms is presented below).

Etiology

The accumulation in the body of a large number of fat molecules is due to the following diseases and conditions:

• genetic predisposition;
• atherosclerosis;
• lifestyle, not implying motor activity;
• smoking;
• excessive use of alcohol-containing drinks;
• prolonged exposure to stress;
• Obesity
• pathologies of a systemic nature;
• unbalanced diet.

The subsidence of cholesterol directly on the walls of the gallbladder occurs against the background of lipid metabolism or changes in the chemical composition of the liver secretion. Under the influence of any of these factors, biliary sludge appears in the organ. In other words, it is a suspension of cholesterol crystals. They, sticking together, can form polyps. In some cases, they break away from the wall and are converted into calculi. In such situations, surgery is usually indicated.

Clinical manifestations

When a cholesterol polyp in the gallbladder is just beginning to form, the human condition does not change. External signs of the development of the pathological process are also absent. In such cases, the cholesterol polyp of the gallbladder is most often detected during an ultrasound scan, prescribed for a completely different reason.

The danger of the disease lies in the fact that in the absence of treatment of tumors becomes more and more. This, in turn, can trigger serious complications.

With an increase in the size of cholesterol polyps of the gallbladder, a person begins to experience the first alarming symptoms. The clinical manifestations of the pathology are as follows.

• Painful sensations. Their occurrence is due to stretching of the walls of the organ and spasms of muscle tissue. The pain may be dull or aching. It is localized in the right side of the abdomen. As a rule, pain occurs after drinking alcohol and fatty foods. For twisting the legs of the polyp, hepatic colic is characteristic. This is a severe pain, the intensity of which does not change even after a change in body position.
• Sclera and skin become yellowish. If the size of the polyp is larger than the diameter of the bile duct, hepatic secretion begins to seep through the walls of the organ. A logical consequence is the development of obstructive jaundice. This condition is accompanied by severe itching of the skin, nausea, vomiting with an admixture of bile, a sharp decrease in body weight and increased body temperature.
• Dyspeptic symptoms. Their occurrence is due to stagnation of hepatic secretion in the gallbladder. Most often, patients complain of nausea, belching and the presence of a bitter aftertaste in the mouth.

Regardless of the severity of symptoms, treatment of cholesterol polyps of the gallbladder cannot be delayed. Ignoring the warning signs often leads to the development of complications that pose a danger not only to health but also to life.

With regards to whether it is possible to cure a cholesterol polyp of the gallbladder. With timely access to a doctor, pathology can be completely eliminated.

Diagnostics

If you experience the first alarming symptoms, you must consult a therapist. This is a general specialist who conducts primary diagnostic measures. Based on their results, he determines the nature of the disease.

If there is a suspicion of the presence of a cholesterol polyp of the gallbladder, the therapist draws up a consultation with a gastroenterologist. It is this specialist who treats the ailment. In addition, the patient must be observed by a cardiologist. The doctor evaluates lipid metabolism and monitors the work of the organs of the cardiovascular system, which are affected in the first place with an excess of fat molecules.

Diagnosis of cholesterol polyps of the gallbladder involves the following studies.

• General blood test. Clinically significant are the indicators of leukocytes and ESR.
• Biochemical studies of fluid connective tissue. The doctor is interested in the level of cholesterol and bilirubin in the patient's body.
• Lipidograms. Based on the results of this laboratory study, a gastroenterologist can judge the degree of gallbladder damage. In addition, the specialist gets the opportunity to evaluate the functioning of the body.
• General analysis of urine and feces.
• Ultrasound During the study, the doctor can visualize not only multiple, but also single polyps of small size. Their characteristic feature is immobility. In other words, they do not shift when the patient's body position changes.
• Ultrasonography. The essence of the method is the introduction into the patient’s body of a flexible endoscope (through the oral cavity). The thin rubber tube is equipped with a miniature camera, so that the doctor can carefully examine the gallbladder from the inside.
• Magnetic resonance cholangiography. In the process of conducting this study, a specialist is able to determine the exact localization of tumors. In addition, he can timely identify any pathological changes that occur in the cells of the organ.

Based on the results of the diagnosis, the doctor provides the patient with information on how to treat a cholesterol polyp in the gallbladder. If necessary, he decides on the feasibility of surgery.

Drug treatment

With timely access to a doctor, you can get rid of neoplasms without surgery. Against the background of proper treatment, cholesterol polyps in the gallbladder resolve independently. The table below shows the most effective drugs.

Many patients are worried about intense pain arising from the growth of cholesterol polyps in the gallbladder. What to do in this case? If there is severe pain, doctors recommend taking antispasmodics. Most often, experts prescribe the following funds: Duspatalin, Papaverine. Less commonly indicated is the use of pain medications (for example, Analgin or Ketorol).

Surgical treatment

If conservative therapy is ineffective, the doctor decides whether surgery is appropriate.

The main indications for the operation:

• a rapid increase in cholesterol polyps in size (it is customary to talk about a high growth rate at a value of 2 mm or more per year);
• neoplasm size from 10 mm;
• During the diagnosis, multiple polyps with a wide base, that is, without a leg, were identified.

Based on the history and results of a comprehensive examination, the doctor chooses the most suitable method for treating cholesterol polyps in the gallbladder. In the early stages of the development of pathology, the organ is usually retained.

Surgical methods are applicable as follows.

• Endoscopic polypectomy. During the operation, only neoplasms are excised, doctors retain the organ. Polyps are removed using a diathermic loop.
• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The method is considered the "gold standard." During the intervention, a gall bladder is resected. Removal of an organ does not mean dissection of the tissues of the abdominal cavity.
• Open cholecystectomy. This is a traditional operation. Access to the affected organ is provided through an incision in the right hypochondrium.

If cholesterol polyps with the gall bladder have been removed, what to do next, the doctor will tell in the postoperative period. When dieting, the quality of life of people, as a rule, does not deteriorate.

Power Features

After treatment (both surgical and conservative), it is necessary to make adjustments to the diet. Following a diet with cholesterol polyps of the gallbladder contributes to the normalization of lipid metabolism. After removing the organ, it is also necessary to make adjustments to the menu for the time the body adapts to a new method of digesting food.

The principles of a therapeutic diet:

• Dishes should be consumed in baked or cooked form. The most useful are steamed products.
• Food should be consumed in small portions, chewing it thoroughly. This need is due to the fact that the liver needs some time to synthesize and activate enzymes.
• You need to eat 4-6 times a day. Serving sizes should be kept to a minimum.

From the diet, meat and fish of fatty varieties, canned foods, hot and sour foods, chocolate, sour cream, strong coffee, alcohol should be excluded.

Alternative methods of treatment

It is important to understand that the use of non-traditional methods is advisable exclusively at an early stage in the development of the pathological process. In addition, you must first consult with your doctor. This is due to the fact that some medicinal products can slightly reduce the effectiveness of medicines.

According to numerous reviews, the treatment of cholesterol polyps of the gallbladder with alternative methods contributes to the rapid relief of unpleasant sensations. During the ultrasound, a positive trend is also detected.

The most effective recipes:

• Take the leaves of knotweed, coltsfoot, wild strawberries (25 g each). Add to them 20 g of shepherd's purse, blackberry leaves and hypericum. Take two more components - dill and leaves of a succession (15 g each). All raw materials must first be dried and crushed. Mix the ingredients thoroughly. 30 g of the resulting mixture pour 250 ml of boiling water. Let it brew for half an hour. Strain the resulting liquid. Take 60 ml before meals three times a day. To improve the taste, you can add several rose hips to the infusion.
• You can cure a cholesterol polyp in the gallbladder with a decoction based on coriander, mint and immortelle. Pre-dried and ground raw materials should be taken in equal proportions. Pour 10 g of collecting 500 ml of boiling water. Simmer for 15 minutes. Pour the resulting liquid into a thermos and let it brew for a day. Drink broth at any time.

It is important to know that any medicinal plant is a potential allergen. If there are signs of an undesirable reaction, treatment of cholesterol polyps of the gallbladder with folk remedies must be completed.

Effects

Ignoring the pathology leads to the development of serious complications. Possible consequences:

• The formation of calculi. During contraction of smooth muscles, the polyp may come off from the wall of the gallbladder to harden.
• Stagnation of hepatic secretion. The result of this pathological condition can be acute cholecystitis. When an infection is attached, the disease poses a threat to life.
• Pancreatitis, both acute and chronic.

Polyps are benign neoplasms. But if untreated, morphological changes begin to occur directly in the cells of the gallbladder. The consequence is the development of the oncological process.

Finally

With an increase in cholesterol concentration and against the background of lipid metabolism disorders, polyps can form in the gall bladder. These are growths that are benign in nature. With timely access to a doctor, you can get rid of cholesterol polyps with the help of medications. With the failure of conservative therapy, surgical intervention is indicated. Despite the benign process, ignoring the pathology can lead to morphological changes directly in the gallbladder and, accordingly, oncology.