Incidence by age and sex of intestinal metaplasia in the gallbladder.

The incidence by age and sex of intestinal metaplasia, focal mucosal hyperplasia, Rokitansky-Aschoff sinuses, and mucosal atrophy was determined histologically for 500 gallbladders from patients who had undergone cholecystectomy. All intestinal metaplastic changes increased steadily with age and were more frequent in female than in male patients younger than 70 years of age. Focal mucosal hyperplasia was often associated with mucous gland hyperplasia in elderly patients, particularly women.