1Professor & Head, Forensic Medicicne & Toxicology, Kannur Medical College, Anjarakandy, Kannur, Kerala, India
2Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, KOIMS, Madikeri, Kodagu, Karnataka, India
3Assistant Professor, Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Mysore Medical College, Mysore, Karnataka, India
Online published on 17 August, 2016.
Disorders of the biliary tract affect a significant portion of the world's population. Over 95% of biliary tract disease is attributable to cholelithiasis (gallstones). The current changes in lifestyles of individuals pertaining to indulgement in unhealthy fat rich food, lack of exercise, obesity, sedentary lifestyles and various other factors have once again focused our attention to gall stones and diseases of the gall bladder. Awareness must be reinforced in this aspect.
To study the histomorphological changes associated with disorders of the gall bladder in order to determine the incidence, prevalence, distribution and any association with new risk factors. This study is directed with these objectives.
This was a cross sectional descriptive study. A total of 91 human post mortem gallbladders were studied. The specimens were collected in 10% formalin following scrutinizing the patient details and identity, with written informed consent from patient's guardian/close relative. Gross descriptions of all the specimens were done. Sections were taken from the fundus, body and neck of the gall bladder, additional sections were taken from abnormal appearing mucosa.
Satisfactory tissue samples for histologic evaluation were available in 85cases with a mean age of 39 years. Normal histology was found in 16 (17.6%) cases. Important findings included congestion in 31 (34%), hypertrophy in 18 (19.8%), cholecystitis in 6 (6.6%), cholelithiasis in 4 (4.3%), fibrosis in 5(5.5%) cases. Causes of death were: Road traffic accident (46.1%), poisoning (23.1%), burns and hanging (5.5%), snake bite and fall from tree/wall (3.3%) respectively.
Gallbladder, histology, gallstones, cholecystitis
