Can gallbladder polyps shrink and disappear?

Whether gallbladder polyps can shrink and disappear depends on the type and size of the gallbladder polyps and whether effective treatment measures have been taken. The following is a detailed analysis of this issue:

Types and changes of gallbladder polyps

• Cholesterol polyps : These polyps are formed due to the oversaturation of bile with cholesterol. Cholesterol polyps may shrink or even disappear in some cases through dietary adjustments, maintaining a regular lifestyle, and medications (such as oral ursodeoxycholic acid). This is because the formation of cholesterol polyps is related to an imbalance in the ratio of cholesterol to bile acid in the bile, which can be corrected by adjusting diet and medications.
• Inflammatory polyps : These polyps are caused by chronic inflammation of the gallbladder wall. As the inflammation subsides, inflammatory polyps may gradually become smaller. However, if the inflammation persists or recurs, the polyps may continue to grow larger.
• Adenomatous polyps and hyperplastic polyps : These polyps are true neoplastic polyps and once formed, they usually do not shrink or disappear on their own. Instead, they may gradually increase in size and have the risk of becoming malignant.

Treatment and management of gallbladder polyps

• Regular monitoring : For gallbladder polyps with a diameter less than 1 cm and no obvious symptoms, color Doppler ultrasound can be performed regularly to monitor changes in size. If polyps are found to be rapidly increasing or exceeding 1 cm, surgical treatment should be considered.
• Drug therapy : For cholesterol polyps and inflammatory polyps, drug therapy may help them shrink. However, it should be noted that the effect of drug therapy varies from person to person, and not all types of polyps are sensitive to drug therapy.
• Surgical treatment : Gallbladder polyps with a diameter of more than 1 cm, symptoms, or the risk of malignant transformation should be treated promptly with surgical intervention. Surgical methods include laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open cholecystectomy.

The possibility of gallbladder polyps disappearing

• Examination error : In some cases, the "disappearance" of gallbladder polyps may be due to examination error. For example, there may be differences in the measurement of polyp size between different hospitals or different doctors.
• Passing out of the body : Rarely, very small gallbladder polyps may pass through the cystic duct into the common bile duct and eventually out of the body. However, this is very rare.
• Disappearance of cholesterol deposits : Sometimes what are called "gallbladder polyps" are actually cholesterol deposits in the gallbladder wall. These deposits may disappear with aggressive diet control, exercise and medication.

In summary, gallbladder polyps may shrink and disappear in some cases (such as cholesterol polyps and inflammatory polyps), but this is not a common phenomenon. For most patients with gallbladder polyps, it is more important to regularly monitor changes in their size, take necessary treatment measures, and maintain good living habits. If there are any concerns or symptoms, you should seek medical attention in time and follow the doctor's advice for treatment.