Selective laparoscopic approach in suspected gallbladder malignancy.

Background And Objectives: We examined patients with clinical findings that are concerning for gallbladder malignancy to determine the incidence of pathology-confirmed malignancy and to discover factors that may be used to determine which patients may be initially treated with a laparoscopic approach.

Methods: All patients referred to a surgical oncologist with preoperative findings that are concerning for gallbladder malignancy who had not undergone previous surgical resection from 2005 to 2011 were reviewed. Variables collected included demographics, imaging, operative findings, and final pathology.