Cholecystitis: a fine structural analysis.

The epithelial cells from 40 gallbladders showing chronic cholecystitis and five with cholesterolosis were examined by electron microscopy. 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 per cent. of the specimens.