Cholecystectomy and risk of pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies

Objective Data from epidemiological studies related to the association of cholecystectomy and pancreatic cancer (PaC) risk are inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis of observational studies to explore this relationship. Methods We identified studies by a literature search of Medline (from 1 January 1966) and EMBASE (from 1 January 1974), through 30 June 2011, and by searching the reference lists of pertinent articles. Summary relative risks with their 95% confidence intervals were calculated with a random-effects model. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q statistic and the I 2 . Results A total of 18 studies (10 case–control studies, eight cohort studies) were included in this meta-analysis. Analysis of these 18 studies found that cholecystectomy was associated with a 23% excess risk of PaC (SRR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.12–1.35), with moderate heterogeneity among these studies ( p heterogeneity = 0.006, I 2 = 51.0%). Sub-grouped analyses revealed that the increased risk of PaC was independent of geographic location, gender, study design and confounders. There was no publication bias in the current meta-analysis. Conclusions The results of this meta-analysis suggest that individuals with a history of cholecystectomy may have an increased risk of pancreatic cancer.