A close relationship between intestinal metaplasia and Cdx2 expression in human gallbladders with cholelithiasis

We previously reported a case of a human gallbladder with cholelithiasis consisting of intestinal metaplasia with the expression of caudal-related homeobox transcription factor (Cdx2). However, it is unclear how often intestinal metaplasia and Cdx2 expression occur in human, nontumorous gallbladders with cholelithiasis. We studied the incidence of intestinal metaplasia and Cdx2 expression in human gallbladders with cholelithiasis. Gallbladders were resected under laparoscopy from 103 patients with cholelithiasis between September 2003 and March 2005. The mean age of the patients was 59.6 +/- 15.0 years (range, 22-92 years). We retrospectively reviewed these cases to look for the presence of intestinal metaplasia and the expression of Cdx2. In addition, the characteristics of intestinal metaplasia were examined by immunostaining for Muc2, chromogranin A, and serotonin. Intestinal metaplasia was found in 11.7% (12/103) of the gallbladders with cholelithiasis. The mean ages of patients with and without intestinal metaplasia were 60.8 +/- 15.4 and 59.4 +/- 14.9 years, respectively. Cdx2, Muc2, chromogranin A, and serotonin were expressed in 91.7% (11/12), 91.7% (11/12), 83.3% (10/12), and 50.0% (6/12) in intestinal metaplastic mucosa, respectively. Only one case (1.1%) that expressed Cdx2 without intestinal metaplasia did not express Muc2, chromogranin A, and serotonin. We found that 10.7% (11/103) of nontumorous gallbladders resected because of cholelithiasis under laparoscopy revealed intestinal metaplasia with Cdx2 expression.