Hairy gallbladder walls alone are not usually cancerous, but with recurring symptoms such as dull, painful swelling or cramping in the upper right abdomen, this recurring inflammation may become cancerous after a period of time.
Hirsutism of the gallbladder is primarily caused by stone cholecystitis, in which irritation from gallbladder stones tends to cause gallbladder hirsutism. Over time, the wall of the gallbladder thickens and may eventually become cancerous. In particular, the larger the diameter of the gallstones, the longer the history of the disease, and the more frequently inflammation occurs, the higher the risk of gallbladder cancer. Therefore, gallstones with large diameters (≥2-3 cm) or recurrent cholecystitis should be treated surgically as soon as possible.
However, not all hairy gallbladder will lead to cancer. Some patients with hairy gallbladder are only incidental and do not have clinical symptoms.
When patients have gallbladder hairiness, they should go to the hospital in time for appropriate examination to clarify the cause of the disease and actively cooperate with doctors for treatment.