Cholecystectomy causes a persistent long-term excess of proximal small-bowel adenocarcinoma and right-sided colon cancer (Lagergren 2001).

Original statement

ولاجرجرن (Gastroenterology 2001) رصد زيادة طويلة الأمد في السرطان الغدي للأمعاء بعد استئصال المرارة.

verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.

Translation

Cholecystectomy causes a persistent long-term excess of proximal small-bowel adenocarcinoma and right-sided colon cancer (Lagergren 2001).

Origin

Source status

Archive editors

Attribution

Archive editors (eltayebat.com); not necessarily Elawady's own words

Origin

https://eltayebat.com/rule/unnecessary-organ-removal/

Attribution uncertainty

Editorial summary/narrative and study selection written by the archive operators; the archive states that the cited research documents harm independently of Dr. Diaa's words.

Claimed mechanism

Changed intestinal bile exposure.

Claimed health effect

Intestinal cancer.

Population concerned

Cholecystectomized patients

Geographic restriction by Elawady

not applicable

Scientific assessment

Potentially true – Some evidence points in favour of the statement, but it is not sufficient for a clear judgement.

Certainty of evidence: low – Further research is likely to change the assessment considerably.

1. What was claimed?

Persistent excess intestinal cancer after cholecystectomy.

2. What is demonstrably correct?

SIR 1.77 for small-bowel adenocarcinoma and 1.16 for right colon cancer, persisting up to 33 years, with a gradient by distance from the bile duct (A-ORG-06).

3. What is wrong or exaggerated?

The relative risks concern rare cancers; absolute excess is small. Comparison with the general population cannot separate the effect of surgery from that of gallstone disease and shared risk factors.

4. What remains unclear?

Causality; size of absolute risk.

5. Which studies support it?

A-ORG-06.

6. Which studies contradict it?

None directly.

7. What applies to Germany and Europe?

Most cited cohorts are Scandinavian (Denmark, Sweden) and directly European; RCTs from the UK and Finland are directly transferable. Guidelines in Europe also emphasize defined indications (not verified here in detail).

8. What is known about Egypt?

No Egypt-specific data on rates or outcomes of tonsillectomy, cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, splenectomy or thyroid surgery were identified in this review.

9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?

A small possible long-term risk; relevant to borderline indications, not a reason to avoid indicated cholecystectomy.

Assessment details

Rationale for certainty of evidence

Large cohort with a gradient, but SIR comparison with general population; confounding by gallstone disease; absolute risk of these rare cancers small.

Source quality

Correctly reported; absolute risk and confounding not mentioned.

Regional transferability

Swedish data.

Individual exceptions

n/a

Regional scope of the claim

general (biological/medical)

Last reviewed

26 October 2026 provisional

Scientific evidence in detail

Overinterpreted – A real finding exists, but the claim draws more from it than the data allow (e.g. association taken as cause, animal data applied to humans, small effect presented as large).

Research question: Does cholecystectomy cause a persistent excess of proximal small-bowel adenocarcinoma and right-sided colon cancer?

Study results as reported by the authors. Our assessment follows below.

Open questions

Updated small-bowel cancer data.

How deeply was this checked?

5 linked studies: 0 checked in full text (0 of them with a structured risk-of-bias assessment), 5 on the basis of the abstract, 0 bibliographically only. No formal assessment with two independent reviewers and no independent human expert review has taken place yet.

Last scientific review: 26 October 2026

In plain language

A Swedish study found that after gallbladder removal, rare small-bowel cancers were about 1.8 times as frequent and right-sided colon cancer about 1.16 times as frequent as in the general population. These are relative numbers for uncommon cancers, so the extra risk for an individual is small. It is also possible that gallstone disease itself, not the operation, explains part of it.

Studies on this claim

Regional context

Germany / EU

Most cited cohorts are Scandinavian (Denmark, Sweden) and directly European; RCTs from the UK and Finland are directly transferable. Guidelines in Europe also emphasize defined indications (not verified here in detail).

Egypt

No Egypt-specific data on rates or outcomes of tonsillectomy, cholecystectomy, hysterectomy, splenectomy or thyroid surgery were identified in this review.

What applies in my country?

General scientific assessment

Potentially true Possible small long-term risk; not proven to be caused by surgery.

This statement concerns biological or medical relationships. The scientific assessment above applies regardless of the country; country-specific food data do not change it.

References

1. Intestinal cancer after cholecystectomy: is bile involved in carcinogenesis?. Lagergren J et al.. Gastroenterology 2001 · PMID 11522737 · DOI 10.1053/gast.2001.27083
2. The association between cholecystectomy and the risk of colorectal cancer: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.. Mu L et al.. Transl Cancer Res 2023 · PMID 37434692 · DOI 10.21037/tcr-22-2049
3. No association between cholecystectomy and risk of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of cohort studies.. Yu L et al.. Int J Colorectal Dis 2023 · PMID 37368048 · DOI 10.1007/s00384-023-04463-0
4. Associations of cholecystectomy with the risk of colorectal cancer: a Mendelian randomization study.. Chen L et al.. Chin Med J (Engl) 2023 · PMID 37027252 · DOI 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002612
5. Cholecystectomy and NAFLD: does gallbladder removal have metabolic consequences?. Nervi F et al.. Am J Gastroenterol 2013 · PMID 23735917 · DOI 10.1038/ajg.2013.84