Cholecystitis: A fine structural analysis

Abstract

The epithelial cells from 40 gallbladders showing chronic cholecystitis and 5 with cholesterolosis were examined by EM. A number of features of non-specific cytological injury were noted some of which may have been related to the disease and others to anoxia. The basement membrane showed reduplication. Intraepithelial cells were identified as lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophages and mast cells. Lipid droplets in the epithelial cells were found in 60% of the specimens.