Risk Factors, Diagnostic Models and Identification of Patients at Risk of Incidental Gallbladder Cancer, an a priori Protocol for a Scoping Review

Background

The safety of selective histological analysis of gallbladders following routine cholecystectomy is controversial, and existing methods for identifying patients at high-risk of incidental gallbladder cancer (iGBC) could be improved. We are planning a large, multicentre, UK study (P-iGBC) to develop a robust diagnostic score for iGBC. In order to map the current literature, we have developed a protocol for a scoping review with an underpinning research question of, “which risk factors, methods for identification of high-risk patients, and diagnostic models exist for incidental gallbladder cancer in routine cholecystectomy?”.



Methods

The Joanna Briggs Institute modifications of the Arksey and O’Malley Framework for scoping reviews will be followed. This protocol will be a priori registered on Open Science Framework. Search strategies have been developed for published work in EMBASE, MEDLINE and CINAHL, for pre-print work in MedRxiv, for grey literature in the National Grey Literature Connection and in CADTH Grey Matters, and for a google search in which the top 50 results will be reviewed for relevant articles. Studies will be collated in Rayyan and titles and abstracts will be reviewed by two independent researchers (ODB + YR) against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Conflicts will be mediated by a supervising researcher (SA). Full text review and conflict resolution will follow, data extracted and papers summarised.



Reporting

The review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) and the PRISMA extensions for reporting protocols and scoping reviews.