liver and gallbladder

[texnfx]

Dear Dr,

I am 32 and have been diagnosed with gallbladder polyps, under 1cm.  They have been stable for one year.  However, the inital ultrasound report said two polyps but the last two follow up ultrasounds said 3-4 polyps.  Also in one of the ultrasounds the liver was noted to be borderline enlarged and there was queation as to a 1cm liver mass (it is not clear to be if there was for sure or not).  I had an MRI which stated that the liver was normal and a tiny hypodense focus noted in the gallbladder - likely a polyp as per the ultrasound.

My questions are:

1.  is it a concern that the number of polyps are increasing or were there perhaps always several but very small?  they do not apper to be growing in size.
2.  what is more reliable re the liver Ultrasound or MRI ?
3 does MRI measure the size of the liver?
4 should i have more follow up

I am concerned re cancer and your insight into this would help

thanks

[texnfx]

thank you,

i did have liver function blood work feb 19 and all are within normal range.  

i was still unsure what imaging is more reliable for the liver - an mri or ultrasound???

thank you

[Thomas D Schiano, MD]

i would definitely have routine liver tests assessed.  gallbladder polyps are being diagnosed more frequently with more imaging studies being performed.  there is a very low risk of malignant transformation so they should be followed by serial ultrasounds performed at the same institution. ultrasounds follow the gallbladder polyps better, MRI the size of the liver.  there may be a lot of interobserver variation in people who both read and perform the studies.

[texnfx]

i should add that i have not had any blood work done as yet - is this indicated??