Gallbladder & extrahepatic bile ducts
Gallbladder nonneoplastic
Metaplasia
Author: Hanni Gulwani, M.B.B.S.
Last author update: 1 September 2012
Last staff update: 12 February 2021
Copyright: 2003-2023, PathologyOutlines.com, Inc.
PubMed Search: Metaplasia[TI] gallbladder
Table of Contents
Definition / general | Bone metaplasia | Cartilaginous metaplasia | Gastric gland metaplasia | Intestinal metaplasia | Squamous metaplasiaCite this page: Gulwani H. Metaplasia. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/gallbladdermetaplasia.html. Accessed June 2nd, 2023.
Definition / general
- Usually gastric or intestinal, rarely squamous
- Associated with older age, gallstones
Bone metaplasia
Case reports
- 53 year old woman with abdominal pain (South Med J 2009;102:322)
- Bone metaplasia in the gallbladder wall (Eksp Klin Gastroenterol 2011;(8):86)
Cartilaginous metaplasia
Case reports
- Infant with extrahepatic biliary atresia with cartilaginous metaplasia (J Clin Pathol 2008;61:965)
Gastric gland metaplasia
Definition / general
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Positive stains
- 66 - 84% of cholecystectomy specimens
- Pyloric, antral or mucous glands
- Glands usually scattered in lamina propria but may extend into muscular layer
- May form polyps
- Don't call adenoma unless dysplasia present
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Various images
Positive stains
- Acid mucin positive (Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam 2007;37:11)
Intestinal metaplasia
Definition / general
Case reports
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Additional references
- Very common finding in cholecystectomy specimens (up to 86%, Sao Paulo Med J 2008;126:220)
- Goblet cells, endocrine cells, Paneth cells, absorptive cells
- Also pyloric gland metaplasia
- Rarely forms polyps
Case reports
- Case reports: 78 year old man and 62 year old woman (Gut 2001;48:719)
Microscopic (histologic) images
Images hosted on other servers:
Various images
Additional references
Squamous metaplasia
Case reports
- 47 year old woman with gastric heterotopia and squamous metaplasia (Acta Gastroenterol Latinoam 2007;37:164)
- 56 year old woman with pseudoepidermoid cyst arising from exuberant squamous metaplasia (Arch Pathol Lab Med 2005;129:e138)
