Evaluating Intestinal Metaplasia in Pediatric Gallbladder Specimens: Clinicopathologic Significance and Sampling...

Gallbladders are a commonly encounter specimen in pediatric pathology practice. In the adult population, intestinal metaplasia (IM) in the gallbladder is associated with the development of dysplasia and adenocarcinoma; however, in children its significance is unknown, and the appropriate sampling has not been described which is the goal of this study.

Twenty-five routine pediatric cholecystectomy cases with IM were identified, and their clinical and histologic findings were reviewed.

Of these 25 cases, 23 were female (92%). The most common indication for surgery was cholelithiasis (84%). Stones were present in 21 cases (84%). Twenty-three cases (92%) had additional sections submitted with an average of 3.9 slides (range = 3-6), and 52% had IM in additional blocks. However, no dysplasia or carcinoma was identified in any case.

IM in the gallbladder is frequently seen in the setting of gallstones and chronic inflammation. Based on our experience, no additional sampling is required when incidentally identified.