Gallbladder ICPN : Macroscopic Features

Comments:
Macroscopic Features: Intracholecystic papillary-tubular neoplasms (ICPNs) appear as exophytic papillary, polypoid or villous tumors, usually in the body or fundus of the gallbladder. Polypoid tumors may be sessile or pedunculated and covered with a smooth mucosa. Villous tumors have a feathery or granular appearance (due to numerous villi). The size ranges from 1 cm to > 8 cm (median size 2.2 cm). Larger lesions may entirely fill the gallbladder lumen. One third of ICPNs are multifocal, indicating a field effect.

Some lesions (especially intracholecystic tubular nonmucinous neoplasm) have a tendency to present as a single pedunculated polyp on a thin stalk that may easily break off and the tumor may be mistaken for sludge or debris and discarded.

Image courtesy of: Dr. Laura Pastrian, Spain; used with permission.