| Cholesterolosis is a common affection of the | | | | bladder interior walls. The size of these polyps |
| biliary system, characterized by the accumulation | | | | varies from 1 to 10 mm. |
| and deposition of cholesterol inside the gall bladder | | | | Cholesterolosis can be only be revealed by |
| and in its mucosal membranes. Cholesterolosis | | | | modern scanning techniques such as ultrasound |
| usually occurs due to chemical imbalances at the | | | | imaging. Ultrasound tests can quickly unveil the |
| level of the biliary system and the disorder is | | | | presence of polyps and lipidic masses associated |
| rarely associated with high serum cholesterol | | | | with cholesterolosis. Polyps appear as immobile |
| levels, diabetes mellitus or atherosclerosis. | | | | prominences attached to gall bladder mucosal |
| Cholesterolosis generally occurs on the premises | | | | walls. The presence of these prominences rarely |
| of inappropriate activity of the gall bladder and | | | | involves hardening or thickening of the gall bladder |
| changes in the composition of bile, facilitating the | | | | interior membranes. Patients who present smaller |
| deposition of cholesterol inside the gall bladder and | | | | polyps usually receive medication treatments for |
| biliary ducts. In the absence of an appropriate | | | | overcoming the disorder. However, the presence |
| treatment, cholesterolosis can lead to serious | | | | of larger polyps often involves cholecystectomy. |
| complications, including gall bladder cancer. | | | | Patients confronted with such gall bladder |
| Although this type of gall bladder disorder can | | | | problems may also receive biopsies before |
| occur in both sexes, cholesterolosis commonly | | | | surgery. Although gall bladder polyps are usually |
| affects women. Also, cholesterolosis has the | | | | benign, cholesterolosis can also lead to malignant |
| highest incidence in people with ages over 50. | | | | activity at the level of the biliary system. |
| Most patients with cholesterolosis are | | | | Similar to cholesterolosis, adenomyomatosis is a |
| asymptomatic, rarely experiencing symptoms | | | | disorder that can also lead to malignant cellular |
| such as diffuse abdominal pain or discomfort. | | | | activity at the level of the gall bladder. Unlike most |
| While the disorder is treatable in its early stages, | | | | forms of cholesterolosis, adenomyomatosis is |
| advanced forms of cholesterolosis require surgical | | | | characterized by thickening of the gall bladder |
| intervention. Medical reports indicate that | | | | mucosal walls. In order to distinguish between the |
| cholesterolosis is responsible for more than 50 | | | | two disorders, doctors commonly inspect the |
| percent of cholecystectomies (surgical procedure | | | | integrity and the general aspect of the gall bladder |
| that involves removal of the diseased gall bladder). | | | | walls before deciding upon the final diagnosis. |
| Cholesterolosis can affect the gall bladder locally or | | | | Speed is vital in diagnosing and treating gall bladder |
| generally. General forms of cholesterolosis appear | | | | disorders such as cholesterolosis and |
| as inflammation of the gall bladder mucosa, | | | | adenomyomatosis, as both these affections can |
| corroborated with yellow staining of the gall | | | | lead to malignancies. Prompt medical intervention |
| bladder tissues and membranes (due to deposition | | | | can easily make the difference between complete |
| of fat). Localized forms of cholesterolosis are | | | | recovery and partial recovery that exposes |
| characterized by the formation of small polyps, | | | | patients to a high risk of malignant disease. |
| soft prominences that emerge from the gall | | | | |