title: Histological findings of gallbladder mucosa in 95 control subjects and 80 patients with asymptomatic gallstones.
abstract: The histological appearance of gallbladder mucosa in 95 control subjects and in 80 patients with asymptomatic gallstones separated according to age and sex was determined in a prospective study. The number and size of stones in the latter group were also analyzed. Among controls, 33% showed abnormal histological findings, mainly chronic cholecystitis, which increased with age and was frequently seen among women. All patients with asymptomatic gallstones showed chronic cholecystitis and/or cholesterolosis, and 5% showed acute inflammatory changes. In 55% of them a single stone was found. These findings suggest that chronic inflammatory changes can occur in the gallbladder mucosa prior to the appearance of macroscopic stones at the gallbladder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Pathology, University Hospital, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Csendes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smok
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burdiles
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maluenda
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Korn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000473:pathology; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies