Histological findings of gallbladder mucosa in 95 control subjects and 80 patients with asymptomatic gallstones.

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.