Scanning electron microscopic study of human gallbladder mucosa in cholelithiasis

The mucosa of 17 gallbladders removed because of cholelithiasis was examined by means of transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Scanning electron micrographs revealed a mulberry-like organization of the normal human gallbladder mucosa. In acute inflammation, circumscribed ulcers were often seen; along their margins the epithelial cells were swollen and isolated from the surrounding cells. In chronic cholecystitis there was an extensive lack of epithelium on the irregularly oriented folds of the mucosa and the characteristic mulberry-like organization was preserved only in islets.