Intestinal metaplasia in gallbladders: prevalence study

Gallbladder mucocele caused by intestinal metaplasia in lithiasic cholecystitis: A case report and literature review of a rare association

INTRODUCTION

Mucin hypersecretion promoted by intestinal metaplasia can lead to gallstone formation. The presence of large amounts of mucin induced by a change in biliary epithelium structure is called a mucocele, a usually benign condition studied among animals but rarely described in humans. This entity must be distinguished from hydrops, a condition secondary to an impacted gallstone in the cystic duct leading to an outlet obstruction and distension of the gallbladder.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

We report a case of a 51-year-old female with lithiasic cholecystitis showing areas of intestinal metaplasia associated with a mucocele. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed with an uneventful postoperative course. Macroscopic findings revealed a dilated gallbladder filled with mucoid fluid. Signs of chronic and focally acute cholecystitis with areas of intestinal metaplasia were observed microscopically.

DISCUSSION

Lithiasic gallbladders can bear a gene that is found in goblet cells of intestinal metaplasia, leading to mucin hypersecretion. Metaplasia - a benign lesion often encountered on cholecystectomy specimens - can be the precursor of carcinoma. Mucin-producing gallbladder carcinoma is a very aggressive tumor that can appear as a mucocele. Consequently, preoperative computed tomography or magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography should be performed in the presence of an unusual aspect on sonography.

CONCLUSION

Metaplastic changes in gallbladder epithelium associated with an overproduction of mucin and lithiasic cholecystitis reported in this case is a rarity. Malignancy is an alternative diagnosis of gallbladder mucocele that must be suspected whenever preoperative imaging of the gallbladder is atypical.

Intrahepatic cholelithiasis with gallbladder-like metaplasia of intrahepatic bile ducts associated with gallbladder agenesis in a wild boar

An unknown-aged adult female wild boar (Sus scrofa) was brought to Kyungpook National University for postmortem examination. Gross examination revealed gallbladder agenesis. Histologically, the liver was cirrhotic and had intrahepatic cholelithiasis, the choleliths were yellow, brown, gray, and black, and had coffin-lid and pyramidal appearances. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that the components were 80% struvite and 20% calcium oxalate monohydrate. Chronic inflammatory cell infiltration was observed, with hyperplastic hepatocellular nodules characterized by large nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and scant cytoplasm with frequent binucleation, surrounded by thick fibrous septa. The epithelium of intrahepatic bile ducts that contained choleliths had undergone gallbladder-like metaplasia, which might have been induced by chronic irritation from the stones or by the accompanying chronic bacterial infection that was observed in Gram stains.

An Unusual Case of Large Cell Neuroendocrine Cancer of the Gallbladder With Mixed Adenocarcinoma Component in a Patient With Pancreatobiliary Maljunction

Gallbladder neuroendocrine tumors (GB-NETs) and gallbladder neuroendocrine carcinomas (GB-NECs) are rare forms of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). Most GB-NENs present as incidental findings or as gallbladder polyps in the course of investigation of nonspecific symptoms such as upper abdominal pain and nausea. Given the rarity of GB-NENs, only a few small case series are currently available describing this entity, and even fewer guiding consensus on standard treatment and the role of adjuvant therapy.  We present the case of a 65-year-old South American female referred for a chronic history of intermittent post-prandial epigastric pain, bloating, nausea, and occasional diarrhea. Pancreaticobiliary maljunction with dilation was present and she was diagnosed with primary gallbladder large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (GB-LCNEC) mixed with a minor component of gallbladder adenocarcinoma.

Histopathological Evaluation of Gallbladder Specimens Obtained From Living Liver Donors

BACKGROUND

Cholecystectomy is routinely performed during living donor hepatectomy both to see the structure of the biliary tract and to determine the demarcation line based on the biliary tract junction. This study aims to present the general histopathological features of the gallbladder specimen obtained from living liver donors (LLD).

METHODS

Data from 2577 LLDs who underwent living donor hepatectomy (n = 2511) or aborted living donor hepatectomy (n = 66) in our Liver Transplantation Institute between September 2005 and June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. Age, gender, macroscopic (length, diameter, and wall thickness), and microscopic (histopathological) features of the gallbladder of the LLDs were recorded for use in this study.

RESULTS

A total of 2493 LLDs (men: 1486, women: 1007) with a median age of 29 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 13) met the inclusion criteria in this study. The median length, width and wall thickness of the gallbladder specimens were measured as 70 mm (IQR: 20), 50 mm (IQR: 20), and 2 mm (IQR: 1), respectively. The most common histopathological findings are normal structure (2026; 81.3%), chronic cholecystitis (n = 446; 17.9%), adenomyomatosis (n = 9), and papillary hyperplasia (n = 6), respectively. The most common pathologic findings in the gallbladder lumen are cholesterolosis (n = 207; 0.4%), cholelithiasis (n = 53), cholesterol polyp (n = 31), and noncholesterol polyp (n = 19), respectively. Significant differences were detected between the male and female genders in terms of age (P < .001), height (P < .001), weight (P < .001), body mass index (P < .001), gallbladder width (P = .001), gallbladder length (P < .001), histopathological finding (content) (P < .001), and lymph node around the gallbladder (P = .015).

CONCLUSIONS

The results we obtained in this study are true gallbladder pathologies that can be detected in healthy people. In this study, it was shown that the diameter and size of the gallbladder were larger in men, whereas the incidence of cholesterolosis and cholelithiasis was higher in women.

Histopathologic Features of 1000 Cholecystectomy Specimens

Background: One of the most common gastrointestinal surgeries is cholecystectomy. Gallstones are the major causes of cholecystectomy and induce various histopathologic changes. Gallbladder carcinoma is rare with poor prognosis. Metaplasic changes in gallbladder epithelium are considered precancerous lesions. Objectives: This study aimed at revealing the spectrum of histopathological patterns of gallbladder diseases in cholecystectomy specimens. Methods: A total of 1004 gallbladder H & E stained slides of cholecystectomy specimens over one year were studied. Histopathological evaluation was done by 6 pathologists in terms of variables. Results: In our study, the male: female ratio was 1:2.1. The age of patients varied from 17 to 96 years with a mean age of 49.1 years. The mean age of patients with gallstones was 47.52 years and was more common in women. Cholesterol, pigmented, and mixed stones were reported in 58.36%, 39.03%, and 2.6% of gallstones, respectively. The most common histological morphology was chronic calculous cholecystitis (61.18%). The incidence of metaplasia and invasive carcinoma was 19.55% and 0.2%, respectively. Conclusions: In this study, histopathological analysis of gallbladder diseases in the cholecystectomy specimens revealed that chronic calculous cholecystitis was the most common histologic finding. Gallstones were found more commonly in women and cholesterol stone was the predominant type. Pyloric metaplasia was the most frequent type of metaplasia. The rate of invasive carcinoma is compatible with those reported in the literature. Routine histopathological analysis of the cholecystectomy specimens will help to detect incidental carcinoma and precursors of malignancy.

Colorectal metastasis to the gallbladder mimicking a primary gallbladder malignancy: histopathological and molecular characteristics

AIMS

Outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment and survival have steadily improved during the past decades, accompanied by an increased risk of developing second primary tumours and metastatic tumours at unusual sites. Metastatic CRC can show mucosal colonisation, thereby mimicking a second primary tumour. This potential confusion could lead to incorrect diagnosis and consequently inadequate treatment of the patient. The aim of this study was to differentiate between metastatic CRC and a second primary (gallbladder cancer, GBC) using a combination of standard histopathology and molecular techniques.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Ten consecutive patients with both CRC and GBC were identified in our region using the Dutch National Pathology Archive (PALGA). Two patients served as negative controls. Histology of GBC was reviewed by nine pathologists. A combination of immunohistochemistry, microsatellite analysis, genomewide DNA copy number analysis and targeted somatic mutation analysis was used to aid in differential diagnosis. In two patients, CRC and GBC were clonally related, as confirmed by somatic mutation analysis. For one case, this was confirmed by genomewide DNA copy number analysis. However, in both cases, pathologists initially considered the GBC as a second primary tumour.

CONCLUSIONS

Metastatic CRC displaying mucosal colonisation is often misinterpreted as a second primary tumour. A combination of traditional histopathology and molecular techniques improves this interpretation, and lowers the risk of inadequate treatment.

Preneoplastic and neoplastic gallbladder lesions detected after cholecystectomy

Introduction

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is diagnosed often incidentally after cholecystectomies, with a rate of 0.1–3%.

Aim

To review the clinical and morphological aspects of GBC and pre-neoplastic lesions in patients who underwent cholecystectomy.

Material and methods

A total of 5026 patients who underwent cholecystectomy between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017 were included in the study. Histological changes (acute cholecystitis, adenomyomatosis, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC), polyps, antral metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia (IM), dysplasia, cancer, and others) in gallbladders (GB) from 5029 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis were analysed.

Results

Gallbladder cancer was more common in women than in men (14/4 = 3.5). A significant relation was found between cholelithiasis and GBC (p = 0.031). Of the patients with GBC, six had stage 1a (T1a + T1b), five had stage 1b (T2N0), two had stage 2 (T3N0), three had stage 2b (T1-3 N1), one had stage 3 (T4 N0), and one had stage 4 (T3N1M1). The IM was more common in females than in males (K/E = 3.3). A significant relationship was found between cholecystitis and IM (p < 0.001). A significant association was observed between IM and adenomyomatosis hyperplasia (p = 0.016).

Conclusions

In this study, it was observed that adenomyomatous hyperplasia and adenomatous polyp were associated with metaplastic changes in the GB pathologies, including XGC and follicular cholecystitis. It is thought that metaplasia-dysplasia may be associated with GBC. However, further studies on GB carcinogenesis are needed.

Metaplastic changes in chronic cholecystitis: implications for early diagnosis and surgical intervention to prevent the gallbladder metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence

Background

Metaplastic features of the gallbladder epithelium are considered to be the precursors of gallbladder cancer. Considering the possible role of chronic inflammatory changes in the development of these lesions and the rationale for performing an early prophylactic cholecystectomy, we performed a retrospective study to assess the prevalence of gallbladder metaplasia in patients who underwent cholecystectomy due to underlying cholelithiasis.

Methods

We reviewed the routine histopathology reports of 86 patients with chronic cholecystitis, who underwent elective cholecystectomy, to assess the prevalence of gallbladder metaplasia in the course of chronic cholecystitis. We further attempted to evaluate the existence of any correlations between the presence of the gallbladder metaplasia and the type of lithiasis, as well as the gallbladder wall thickness.

Results

The overall prevalence of metaplastic features in the resected specimens was 25.6%. Dysplastic changes were more frequent in gallbladder specimens with concurrent metaplasia. Moreover, in presence of metaplastic changes, we observed an increase of the average gallbladder wall thickness. Finally, metaplastic and dysplastic changes were associated with the presence of micro-lithiasis rather than macro-lithiasis.

Conclusions

Gallbladder metaplastic changes appear to be more frequent in cases of micro-lithiasis and seem to be associated with a chronic thickening of the gallbladder wall. Taking into account the usually sub-clinical course of this group of patients, when compared to patients with macro-lithiasis, further studies are needed to evaluate a possible role of prophylactic cholecystectomy in this population to prevent the long term evolution of these early changes to cancerous lesions.

A comparative study of clinicopathological features between chronic cholecystitis patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection in gallbladder mucosa

Background

Helicobacter pylori has been isolated from 10%–20% of human chronic cholecystitis specimens but the characteristics of “Helicobacter pylori positive cholecystitis” remains unclear. This study aims to compare the clinicopathological features between chronic cholecystitis patients with and without Helicobacter pylori infection in gallbladder mucosa.

Methods

Three hundred and twenty-six chronic cholecystitis patients were divided into two groups according to whether Helicobacter pylori could be detected by culture, staining or PCR for Helicobacter 16s rRNA gene in gallbladder mucosa. Positive samples were sequenced for Helicobacter pylori-specific identification. Clinical parameters as well as pathological characteristics including some premalignant lesions and the expression levels of iNOS and ROS in gallbladder were compared between the two groups.

Results

Helicobacter pylori infection in gallbladder mucosa was detected in 20.55% of cholecystitis patients. These patients had a higher prevalence of acid regurgitation symptoms (p = 0.001), more histories of chronic gastritis (p = 0.005), gastric ulcer (p = 0.042), duodenal ulcer (p = 0.026) and higher presence of Helicobacter pylori in the stomach as compared to patients without Helicobacter pylori infection in the gallbladder mucosa. Helicobacter pylori 16s rRNA in gallbladder and gastric-duodenal mucosa from the same individual patient had identical sequences. Also, higher incidences of adenomyomatosis (p = 0.012), metaplasia (p = 0.022) and higher enhanced expressions of iNOS and ROS were detected in Helicobacter pylori infected gallbladder mucosa (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Helicobacter pylori infection in gallbladder mucosa is strongly associated with Helicobacter pylori existed in stomach. Helicobacter pylori is also correlated with gallbladder premalignant lesions including metaplasia and adenomyomatosis. The potential mechanism might be related with higher ROS/RNS production but needs further investigation.

[Prevalence and sequence of metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma of the gallbladder. A single centre retrospective study]

INTRODUCTION

We report the frequency and age of metaplasia, dysplasia and carcinoma of the gallbladder, and seek to establish a sequence of progression of these, since several studies suggest that this is the carcinogenesis pathway.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study over a period of 4 years, with an analytical component of 1,514 patients with cholelithiasis, in whom cholecystectomy were performed.

RESULTS

The mean age of the sample was 46 years and 72% of patients were female. The prevalence (and mean age) of pyloric metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and carcinoma was 22.6 (47), 2.1 (46), 0.2 (54) and 0.6% (63 years), respectively. There was a significant association between intestinal and pyloric metaplasia (P<.001, chi(2)) and between dysplasia and carcinoma (P<.005, Yates), but not between metaplasia and dysplasia.

CONCLUSION

Improved studies should be conducted for the correct interpretation of the pathogenesis of gallbladder cancer.

Gallbladder intestinal metaplasia in Pakistani patients with gallstones

The gallbladder specimens of patients who underwent cholecystectomy for symptomatic gallstones between 2003 and 2005 were evaluated for the presence of Intestinal Metaplasia. (IM) and its risk factors. IM was positive in 39% of 293 patients tested, and in the comparative analysis of 114 metaplasia positive versus 179 negative patients, a high risk was found in patients who were 60 years or older [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5, 6.2]. Other factors with aOR greater than 1 were moderate to excessive use of chilies (1.8) and ethnic origin of North India (1.7). Screening method has yet to be devised for early detection of gallbladder cancer by identifying metaplastic lesions early in life. We believe that large geographic variation and lifestyle environmental factors associated with the development of gallbladder metaplasia and cancer mortality are concealed in our study that needs to be further explored.

Cholelithiasis in gallbladder cancer: coincidence, cofactor, or cause!

BACKGROUND

While gallstones are associated with cancers of the gallbladder, the actual nature of their relationship needs to be clarified. This would aid the recommendations on the need for prophylactic cholecystectomy.

METHODS

A systematic search of the scientific literature was carried out using the Medline, the Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for the years 1891-2009 to obtain access to all publications involving gallstones in gallbladder cancer.

RESULTS

While some epidemiological evidence supports a causal relationship for gallstones in gallbladder cancer, other studies have demonstrated a relatively low incidence of gallbladder cancer in countries reporting a high incidence of gallstones as a whole. In those studies where gallstones appear to have a causative role for cancer, the risk increases with increasing size, volume and weight, and number of the stones. The impact of duration of the stone or its composition is not clear. Experimental evidence from studies examining the impact of artificially introducing gallstones in the gallbladder has failed to lead to carcinogenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence at the current time indicates that gallstones are a cofactor in the causation of gallbladder cancer. Absolute proof of their role as a cause for gallbladder cancer is lacking. The recommendation for prophylactic cholecystectomy in countries reporting a high incidence of gallbladder cancer and associated gallstones needs to be tailored to the epidemiological profile of the place.

Are histological alterations observed in the gallbladder precancerous lesions?

INTRODUCTION

Gallbladder cancer, which is characterized by rapid progression and a poor prognosis, is a complex disease to treat. Unfortunately, little is known currently about its etiology or pathogenesis. A better understanding of its carcinogenesis and determining risk factors that lead to its development could help improve the available treatment options.

METHOD

Based on this better understanding, the histological alterations (such as acute cholecystitis, adenomyomatosis, xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis, polyps, pyloric metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, cancer and others) in gallbladders from 1,689 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis were analyzed. The association of these gallbladder histological alterations with clinical data was studied.

RESULTS

Gender analysis revealed a greater incidence of inflammatory changes in males, while dysplasia and cancer were only found in women. The incidence of cholesterolosis was greater in the patients 60 years of age and under, and the incidence of adenomyomatosis and gangrene was greater in the elderly patients. A progressive increase in the average age was observed as alterations progressed through pyloric metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and then cancer, suggesting that the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence may occur in gallbladder cancer. Gallbladder histological alterations were also observed in asymptomatic patients.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that there could be an association between some histological alterations of gallbladder and cancer, and they also suggest that the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence could in fact be true in the case of gallbladder cancer. Nevertheless, further studies directed towards a perfect understanding of gallbladder carcinogenesis are required.