담낭 용종은 담낭용종은 담낭내강으로 돌출된 융기 병변으로 다양한 양, 악성 질환을 모두 포함하고 있으며 대부분 평생 양성의 경과를 보인다. 그러나 적은 수지만 선종성 용 종은 악성 용종으로 진행할 수 있으며 이를 초기에 진단함으 로써 완치할 수 있다. 용종의 진단에는 초음파, CT 등의 검사 를 시행하며 선종성 용종의 진단율을 높이기 위해 최근 내시경 초음파 및 조영증강 하모닉 내시경초음파 검사가 시행되고 있다. 담낭용종의 크기가 1cm 이상, 고령에서 발견된 용 종, 단일성의 무경성 용종, 담석이 동반된 경우, 증상이 있는 용종의 경우에는 수술을 우선적으로 고려해야 한다. 1 cm 미만의 용종은 3-6개월 간격으로 초음파 검사를 시행하며 이후 1년에서 2년 동안 변화가 없으면 1년에 한 번 이상 최소 5년 이상 검사할 것을 추천한다.

A polypoid lesions of the gallbladder (PLGs) is defined as any elevated lesion of the mucosal surface of the gallbladder wall. Even though most of the gallbladder polyps are benign in nature, malignant polyps are found in some cases. Because advanced gallbladder cancer displays poor prognosis, early detection and appropriate early measures are important for curative treatment and improvement in long-term survival. Patients who have GB polyps are usually almost always asymptomatic and often diagnosed incidentally by abdomen CT scan or transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) imaging. However TAUS and CT scan can not differentiate precancerous and cancerous lesions from cholesterol polyps. To increase the diagnostic accuracy, New imanging modality is being performed. Of the available tests, the accuracy of EUS (or CEH-EUS) for the differentiation of neoplastic from nonneoplastic polyps was higher than that of transabdominal US or CT scan. The cholecystectomy should be undertaken only in cases where there are clinical signs of gallbladder polyps, polyps with diameters greater than 10 mm, fast-growing polyps, sessile polyps or wide-based polyps, patient aged over 50, concurrent gallstones, polyps of the gallbladder in fundibulum or abnormal gallbladder wall US. Gallbladder polyps that are not resected should be followed-up with serial ultrasound examinations. guidelines on the screening interval are not yet available, but follow-up with the same modality is generally recommended after 3-6 months. If there are no changes in size, contour, or vascualrity, the follow-up should be individualized; most often a follow up after another 12-24 months could be recommended up to 5 years at least.

• 이엄석(충남대학교병원 소화기내과) | Eaum Seok Lee Corresponding author