The Contribution of Additional Sampling in Cholecystectomy Materials: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Abstract

Objective: Cholecystectomy materials are frequently encountered in routine practice. The aim of this study was to determine the true frequencyof gallbladder lesions, the diagnostic consistency, and standardization of reports after macroscopic sampling and microscopic evaluation basedon previously defined criteria.Material and Method: 14 institutions participated in the study within the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Pathology Study Group. Routinely examinedcholecystectomies within the last year were included in the study in these institutions. Additional sampling was performed according to theindications and criteria. The number of blocks and samples taken in the first macroscopic examination and the number of blocks and samplestaken in the additional sampling were determined and the rate of diagnostic contribution of the additional examination was determined.Results: A total of 5,244 cholecystectomy materials from 14 institutions were included in the study. Additional sampling was found to be necessaryin 576 cases (10.98%) from all institutions. In the first macroscopic sampling, the mean of the numbers of samples was approximately 4 and thenumber of blocks was 2. The mean of the numbers of additional samples and blocks was approximately 8 and 4, respectively. The diagnosis waschanged in 144 of the 576 new sampled cases while the remaining 432 stayed unaltered.Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that new sampling after the first microscopic examination of cholecystectomy materials contributed tothe diagnosis. It was also shown that the necessity of having standard criteria for macroscopic and microscopic examination plays an importantrole in making the correct diagnosis.