Prevalence of celiac disease in Argentina: screening of an adult population in the La Plata area.

OBJECTIVES: Up to now, the epidemiological characteristic of celiac disease among adults in South America remains unknown. The present prospective screening was designed to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in adults from the general population in an urban area of Argentina. METHODS: Between January. 1998, and May, 2000, all couples attending a centralized laboratory for an obligatory prenuptial examination in the La Plata area were offered participation in a screening program for celiac disease. The study included 2000 subjects (996 women; median age 29 yr, range 16-79 yr). All individuals completed a clinical questionnaire at the time that serum samples were obtained. A three-step screening protocol was used, as follows: 1) all samples were tested for antigliadin antibodies (AGAs) (type IgA and IgG); 2) samples that were IgA AGA positive were tested for antiendomysial antibody (EmA type IgA); samples that were positive for AGA-G but negative for IgA AGAs were tested for total IgA serum levels and EmA type IgG; and 3) subjects who were EmA-positive were referred for intestinal biopsy. RESULTS: At the end of the screening we detected 10 subjects who were EmA-A positive and two others who were IgA-deficient (both were EmA-G positive). Up to now, 11 of the 12 subjects (including nine EmA-positive and two IgA-deficient subjects) had endoscopic intestinal biopsies showing the characteristic celiac histology. The remaining EmA-positive individual was considered to be affected by celiac disease. The overall prevalence assessed was 1:167 (6.0 x 1000 subjects; 95% CI = 3.1-10.5). Eight of the 12 (67%) subjects were female (1:124; 8.0 x 1000; 95% CI = 3.5-15.8) and four (33%) were male (1:251; 4.0 x 1000; 95% Cl = 1.1-10.2). Although eight new patients were considered to be asymptomatic, three presented with a subclinical course and one was classically symptomatic. Only one patient had been previously diagnosed with celiac disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our screening protocol showed a very high prevalence of celiac disease for an urban area of Argentina that is ethnically similar to 90% of the general population of the country. The prevalence among women was double that for men, and the heterogeneous clinical picture of new patients showed predominance of asymptomatic cases.

Smoking and drinking cessation and risk of esophageal cancer (Spain).

OBJECTIVES: To explore the effectiveness of alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking cessation in reducing esophageal cancer risk, taking into account the key characteristics of each habit and the simultaneous exposure to both habits. METHODS: Data from a series of five hospital-based case-control studies of incident squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, Lyon, France) in high-risk areas in South America were combined and analyzed by multivariate logistic regression procedures. A total of 2063 men (655 case patients and 1408 control subjects) were included in the pooled analysis. RESULTS: For either habit, the risk of esophageal cancer decreased rapidly, strongly and significantly with longer periods of abstention. The risk reduction was statistically significant regardless of the intensity and duration of each habit and the type of tobacco or alcoholic drink consumed. For subjects exposed to both risk factors, the protective effect of quitting both habits appeared to be synergistic, reaching, after only five to nine years of simultaneous cessation of both exposures, a 70% risk reduction, a reduction that clearly overlapped with the risk intervals of both never-smokers and never-drinkers. The risk benefit of merely quitting alcohol drinking was delayed (>10 years of cessation) unless it was also accompanied by a few years of smoking cessation. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings solidly demonstrate for the first time the effectiveness of smoking and drinking cessation in reducing esophageal cancer risk. For the large proportion of subjects in the general population exposed to both risk factors, our results further emphasize the importance of smoking cessation to effectively reduce cancer risk.

Influence of mate drinking, hot beverages and diet on esophageal cancer risk in South America.

To estimate the effects of consuming hot beverages, including mate (an infusion of the herb Ilex paraguayensis), tea, coffee and coffee with milk, and other food items on esophageal cancer risk, we analyzed data from 830 cases and 1,779 controls participating in a series of 5 hospital-based case-control studies of squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus conducted in high-risk areas of South America. After adjusting for the strong effects of tobacco and alcohol consumption, both heavy mate drinking (>1 l/day) and self-reported very hot mate drinking were significantly associated with esophageal cancer risk in men and women. The magnitude and strength of the association for mate amount and, to a lesser extent, mate temperature were higher for women than men. The joint effects of mate amount and mate temperature were more than multiplicative, following a statistically significant synergistic interaction (p = 0.02) which was particularly evident among heavy drinkers (>1.50 l/day) of very hot mate (odds ratio = 4.14, 95% confidence interval: 2.24-7.67) compared to light drinkers (<0.50 l/day) of cold/warm/hot mate. Consumption of other very hot beverages, such as tea and coffee with milk but not coffee alone, was also significantly associated with an increased risk, in the 2- to 4-fold range. Statistically significant protective associations were identified for high consumption of vegetables, fruits, cereals and tea. In contrast, frequent consumption of meat, animal fats and salt was associated with a moderately increased risk. This pooled analysis adds evidence for a carcinogenic effect of chronic thermal injury in the esophagus induced by the consumption of very hot drinks, including mate. Our study further confirms the protective effect of a dietary pattern characterized by daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and low consumption of meat and animal fats.

[Intrahepatic cholestasis induced by amoxicillin alone]. / Colestasis intrahepática inducida por amoxicilina sola.

We present a young, female patient with clinical and biochemical manifestations of acute cholestasis who had undergone a 10-day course of 1,500 mg/day amoxicillin 3 weeks before the consultation. Diagnosis was based on the absence of alcohol consumption, negative viral markers and antibodies, normal biliary tract, clinical and biochemical improvement when amoxicillin was withdrawn and liver biopsy with histological changes compatible with amoxicillin-induced acute cholestasis. Because hepatotoxicity induced by amoxicillin alone is rare, we believe it important to communicate this new case and to warn of this possible complication. We also stress that simple cholestasis induced by amoxicillin alone, as presented in this case, has been described in only one report, published 10 years ago.

Graft versus host disease in autologous stem cell transplantation.

Relapse remains the major cause of mortality in haematological malignancies treated with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Graft versus tumour reaction (GVT) associated to autologous graft versus host disease (GVDH) may contribute to eliminate minimal residual disease (MRD) after ASCT. Eighty patients with several diagnostics were submitted to ASCT. After stem cell infusion, patients randomised in 4 groups. Groups were treated as follows: Group A received either a IFN (alpha Interferon--1,000,000 U/d), Cyclosporine A (CSA--1 mg/-kg/d intravencus) for 28 days, and granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF-250/m2/d) until engraftment; B: CSA (same dose and way) and GM-CSF; C: CSA (1 mg/kg/d orally) and GM-CSF and D: only GM-CSF. Patients were inspected daily and if skin rash was detected, a skin biopsy was obtained at that moment, otherwise biopsies were obtained at day 21 after ASCT. GVHD was positive in 23 patients (13 from group A and 10 from group B). All cases were grades I and II. A majority of CD4+ T lymphocytes was seen in skin infiltrates. No significant differences were seen in WBC and platelets engraftment times, antibiotic administration or hospitalisation days required among the four groups. With a median follow up of 18 months, there were no differences in disease free survival (DFS) or overall survival (OS) between the patients who developed GVHD and the others. However, considering that myeloma cells do not express antigen MCH II, which is necessary for GVT effect, we excluded patients with multiple myeloma (MM) from survival analysis, thus obtaining a significant difference in OS results between patients who developed GVHD and those in whom this reaction was not observed (81% vs 58% p:0.05). We conclude that pharmacological induction of GVHD in ASCT is possible with CSA administration (1 mg/kg/d i.v.). Development of GVHD showed a better outcome for patients in our study except for those patients with MM. This results must be confirmed by a longer follow up of our patients and further studies.

Independent and joint effects of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking on the risk of esophageal cancer in men and women.

To estimate the independent and joint effects of tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking, we analyzed data from a series of 5 hospital-based case-control studies of squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus conducted in high-risk areas in South America. A total of 830 case subjects and 1779 control subjects were included in the pooled analysis. All exposure characteristics of amount, duration, cessation and type of alcohol and tobacco consumed were strongly related to esophageal-cancer risk in both sexes. Women had the same exposure profile as men, but the magnitudes of the associations were lower than were those among men. Black-tobacco smoking was associated with a 2-fold increased risk as compared with the smoking of blond or mixed tobacco. Quitting either of the 2 habits significantly reduced esophageal-cancer risk. Alcohol and tobacco alone were strongly related to the risk of esophageal cancer, even in the absence of the other exposure. A history of simultaneous exposure to cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking had a strong multiplicative effect on risk. Concomitant exposure to heavy alcohol drinking and black-tobacco smoking identified the group with the highest risk for developing esophageal cancer (odds ratio = 107). A synergistic interaction was found between the 2 habits, particularly in women and in moderately exposed men. Moderate cigarette smoking without drinking and moderate alcohol drinking without smoking had a negligible effect on esophageal-cancer risk. However, simultaneous exposure to the same moderate amounts increased the risk 12- to 19-fold in men and in women respectively. The overall public-health implications of these findings are obvious for a tumor that depends on preventive strategies for its control.

Hepatic sinusoidal dilatation associated to giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's): a new case in a patient with periorbital xanthelasmas and history of celiac disease.

We present a new case of hepatic sinusoidal dilatation associated to giant lymph node hyperplasia or Castleman's disease in a 23-year-old patient with xanthelasmas and history of celiac disease. He presented with weight loss, hepatomegaly, periorbital xanthomas, anemia, accelerated erythrosedimentation rate, hypoalbuminemia, hypergammaglobulinemia at the expense of immunoglobulin G (IgG), high titers of autoantibodies, and increase of serum alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activity. A liver biopsy showed sinusoidal dilatation. Fifteen months later, a computed axial tomography showed a retroperitoneal tumor that turned out to be a giant lymph node hyperplasia. After resection of the tumor all clinic and biochemical manifestations had faded, suggesting an association between xanthelasmas, Castleman's disease, sinusoidal dilatation, and celiac disease. A humoral factor produced by the lymph tumor of the patient may have been responsible for the immunologic alterations he presented.

Caracteristicas histopatologicas hepaticas en pacientes com sueros anti HCV reactivos / Liver histopatlological characteristics in patients with anti-HCV-positive sera

In order to have knowledge on the histopatologic characteristics of the HCV infections in our geographical area and its relation with some epidemiologic variables, a serie of 54 biopsias of Anti HCV (R) patients was analized. The histologic lesions found in this study correspond mostly to patients with relatively early infections, on the contrary to other studies of the some kind. The most frequent histopathologic diagnosis were crhonic hepatitis 38/54 (70.4 percent), steatosis 4/54 (7.4 percent) and 12/54 (22.2 percent) with no changes. The presence of lymphoid follicles in the portal tracts was the most frequent histological change in this series (66.7 percent), followed by the alteration in bile ducts (53.7 percent); they occurred in a significally higher proportion in the biopsies which had a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (p=0.02) (p=0.000002). The presence of steatosis and acidophilic bodies in the acinus were found in nearly one third of the biopsies. This findings suggest that the hepatic damage in the anti HCV reactive patients might take through inmunologic mechanisms and citopatic direct action. It was not found that histologic changes produced by HCV might differ according to epidemiologic variables (post-tranfutional, drug abuse IV and sporadic).

Estudio sistematico de piezas de gastrectomia por cancer en busqueda de carcinomas sincronicos / Systematic study of gastrectomy specimens for cancer, in search of synchronic carcinomas

Multiple carcinomas were searched in 50 successive gastrectomies, 17 females (34 percent) 33 males (66 percent) from 40 to 83 years old. Macroscopic handling of the specimens included pinning an a board, fresh, half-fixed and completely fixed examination, not only by naked eye but also through a magnifying glass. The stomach were totally studied, according to japanese method. A satisfactory slide was obtained from each block, stained with H.E. and examined by each of the authors. Synchronous tumors were found in 4 cases (8 percent), 3 males and one female. Compared to the main lesion, two cases showed a proximal tumor, one case showed a distal tumor, and the last one showed two tumors, one of them proximal and the other distal. Three tumors were macroscopically and two were microscopically detected. Two of them coexisted with advanced carcinoma and three with early carcinoma. Four of them were located in mucosa with intestinal metaplasia. Histologically, four cases belong to the same type of the original tumor, and one of them did not coincide. We conclude that stomachs resected for cancer must be thoroughly and methodically studied before and after fixation. We suggest that resection must include the whole mucosa with intestinal metaplasia, in order to avoid leaving a synchronous tumor in the gastric stump.

Caracteristicas histopatologicas hepaticas en pacientes com sueros anti HCV reactivos / Liver histopatlological characteristics in patients with anti-HCV-positive sera

In order to have knowledge on the histopatologic characteristics of the HCV infections in our geographical area and its relation with some epidemiologic variables, a serie of 54 biopsias of Anti HCV (R) patients was analized. The histologic lesions found in this study correspond mostly to patients with relatively early infections, on the contrary to other studies of the some kind. The most frequent histopathologic diagnosis were crhonic hepatitis 38/54 (70.4 percent), steatosis 4/54 (7.4 percent) and 12/54 (22.2 percent) with no changes. The presence of lymphoid follicles in the portal tracts was the most frequent histological change in this series (66.7 percent), followed by the alteration in bile ducts (53.7 percent); they occurred in a significally higher proportion in the biopsies which had a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (p=0.02) (p=0.000002). The presence of steatosis and acidophilic bodies in the acinus were found in nearly one third of the biopsies. This findings suggest that the hepatic damage in the anti HCV reactive patients might take through inmunologic mechanisms and citopatic direct action. It was not found that histologic changes produced by HCV might differ according to epidemiologic variables (post-tranfutional, drug abuse IV and sporadic). (AU)

Estudio sistematico de piezas de gastrectomia por cancer en busqueda de carcinomas sincronicos / Systematic study of gastrectomy specimens for cancer, in search of synchronic carcinomas

Multiple carcinomas were searched in 50 successive gastrectomies, 17 females (34 percent) 33 males (66 percent) from 40 to 83 years old. Macroscopic handling of the specimens included pinning an a board, fresh, half-fixed and completely fixed examination, not only by naked eye but also through a magnifying glass. The stomach were totally studied, according to japanese method. A satisfactory slide was obtained from each block, stained with H.E. and examined by each of the authors. Synchronous tumors were found in 4 cases (8 percent), 3 males and one female. Compared to the main lesion, two cases showed a proximal tumor, one case showed a distal tumor, and the last one showed two tumors, one of them proximal and the other distal. Three tumors were macroscopically and two were microscopically detected. Two of them coexisted with advanced carcinoma and three with early carcinoma. Four of them were located in mucosa with intestinal metaplasia. Histologically, four cases belong to the same type of the original tumor, and one of them did not coincide. We conclude that stomachs resected for cancer must be thoroughly and methodically studied before and after fixation. We suggest that resection must include the whole mucosa with intestinal metaplasia, in order to avoid leaving a synchronous tumor in the gastric stump. (AU)

[Systematic study of gastrectomy specimens for cancer, in search of synchronous carcinomas]. / Estudio sistematico de piezas de gastrectomia por cáncer en búsqueda de carcinomas sincrónicos.

Multiple carcinomas were searched in 50 successive gastrectomies, 17 females (34%) 33 males (66%) from 40 to 83 years old. Macroscopic handling of the specimens included pinning on a board, fresh, half-fixed and completely fixed examination, not only by naked eye but also through a magnifying glass. The stomach were totally studied, according to Japanese method. A satisfactory slide was obtained from each block, stained with H.E. and examined by each of the authors. Synchronous tumors were found in 4 cases (8%), 3 males and one female. Compared to the main lesion, two cases showed a proximal tumor, one case showed a distal tumor, and the last one showed two tumors, one of them proximal and the other distal. Three tumors were macroscopically and two were microscopically detected. Two of them coexisted with advanced carcinoma and three with early carcinoma. Four of them were located in mucosa with intestinal metaplasia. Histologically, four cases belong to the same type of the original tumor, and one of them did not coincide. We conclude that stomachs resected for cancer must be thoroughly and methodically studied before and after fixation. We suggest that resection must include the whole mucosa with intestinal metaplasia, in order to avoid leaving a synchronous tumor in the gastric stump.

[Liver histopathological characteristics in patients with HCV-positive sera]. / Caracteristicas histopatológicas hepáticas en pacientes con sueros anti HCV reactivos.

In order to have knowledge on the histopathologic characteristics of the HCV infections in our geographical area and its relation with some epidemiologic variables, a series of 54 biopsies of Anti HCV (R) patients was analyzed. The histologic lesions found in this study correspond mostly to patients with relatively early infections, on the contrary to other studies of the some kind. The most frequent histopathologic diagnosis were chronic hepatitis 38/54 (70.4%), steatosis 4/54 (7.4%) and 12/54 (22.2%) with no changes. The presence of lymphoid follicles in the portal tracts was the most frequent histological change in this series (66.7%), followed by the alteration in bile ducts (53.7%); they occurred in a significantly higher proportion in the biopsies which had a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (p = 0.02) (p = 0.000002). The presence of steatosis and acidophilic bodies in the acinus were found in nearly one third of the biopsies. This findings suggest that the hepatic damage in the anti HCV reactive patients might take place through immunologic mechanisms and cytopathic direct action. It was not found that histologic changes produced by HCV might differ according to epidemiologic variables (post-transfusional, drug abuse i.v. and sporadic).

[Hepatitis B and C virus in chronic alcoholic patients: prevalence and influence on liver injury]. / Virus de Hepatitis B y C en alcoholicos crónicos. Prevalencia e influencia sobre el daño hepático.

The aim of this prospectively designed study is to analyse the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in 115 chronic alcohol abusers, their relation to epidemiological variables, and their meaning in pathogenesis and severity of alcoholic liver injury. A prevalence of 13.9% anti-HBc and 20.0% anti-HCV reactivity (EIA II) were found, significantly higher that found in blood donors (3.75 and 0.65% respectively). It is striking our finding of 69.6% "sporadic" type of HCV infection. Histological diagnostic of chronic hepatitis was done in 3 cases, all of them reactive to anti-HCV, enhancing the ethiologic role of HCV in the so called "alcoholic chronic hepatitis". No differences in histological final diagnosis were found related to HBV and HCV markers reactivity, suggesting no clear influence of viral infections on the severity of liver damage in alcoholics in our series. Neither anti-HCV positivity ratio seemed have to influence on these results. Despite a high prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in chronic alcohol abusers, our finding suggest no clear role for them in histological damage.

Virus de hepatitis B y C en alcoholicos cronicos: prevalencia e influencia sobre el dano hepatico / Hepatitis B and C virus in chronic alcoholic patients: prevalence and influence in the liver injury

Se presenta un estudio prospectivo sobre 115 alcohólicos crónicos destinado a conocer la prevalencia de marcadores séricos de virus de hepatitis B y C (HBV) (HCV) en ese tipo de pacientes, la asociación de las infecciones por HBV y HCV con diversas variables epidemiológicas y la influencia de esos virus sobre el grado de lesión hepatica. Se halló una prevalencia de marcadores de HBV del 13.9 por ciento de Anti HCV del 20.0 por ciento ambas significativamente mayores a las de los donantes de sangre. La alta prevalencia de Anti HCV en esta serie de alcohólicos, con un 69.6 por ciento de formas espor dicas de infección, resulta difícil de justificar. El diagnóstico histológico de hepatitis crónica (HC) realizado en 3 de los 115 pacientes estudiados, recayó la totalidad de las veces sobre pacientes Anti HCV (R), demonstrando una clara asociación de las HC con el HCV en los alcohólicos crónicos. Con respecto a los otros diagnósticos histológicos, no se halló diferencias entre los pacientes con sueros reactivos para algún marcador del HBV o para el Anti HCV y aquellos con sueros no reactivos; sugiriendo que el HBV y el HCV no influyen en el grado de lesión hep tica de los alcohólicos crónicos. No hallamos que la relación de positividad del Anti HCV en los 23 pacientes fuera diferente según los distintos diagnósticos histopatológicos. Tampoco apreciamos en esta serie, que la cirrosis acurriera mas tempranamente en los Anti HCV R que en los NR; discrepando con algunas comunicaciones recientes.

Virus de hepatitis B y C en alcoholicos cronicos: prevalencia e influencia sobre el dano hepatico / Hepatitis B and C virus in chronic alcoholic patients: prevalence and influence in the liver injury

Se presenta un estudio prospectivo sobre 115 alcohólicos crónicos destinado a conocer la prevalencia de marcadores séricos de virus de hepatitis B y C (HBV) (HCV) en ese tipo de pacientes, la asociación de las infecciones por HBV y HCV con diversas variables epidemiológicas y la influencia de esos virus sobre el grado de lesión hepatica. Se halló una prevalencia de marcadores de HBV del 13.9 por ciento de Anti HCV del 20.0 por ciento ambas significativamente mayores a las de los donantes de sangre. La alta prevalencia de Anti HCV en esta serie de alcohólicos, con un 69.6 por ciento de formas espor dicas de infección, resulta difícil de justificar. El diagnóstico histológico de hepatitis crónica (HC) realizado en 3 de los 115 pacientes estudiados, recayó la totalidad de las veces sobre pacientes Anti HCV (R), demonstrando una clara asociación de las HC con el HCV en los alcohólicos crónicos. Con respecto a los otros diagnósticos histológicos, no se halló diferencias entre los pacientes con sueros reactivos para algún marcador del HBV o para el Anti HCV y aquellos con sueros no reactivos; sugiriendo que el HBV y el HCV no influyen en el grado de lesión hep tica de los alcohólicos crónicos. No hallamos que la relación de positividad del Anti HCV en los 23 pacientes fuera diferente según los distintos diagnósticos histopatológicos. Tampoco apreciamos en esta serie, que la cirrosis acurriera mas tempranamente en los Anti HCV R que en los NR; discrepando con algunas comunicaciones recientes. (AU)

Alcohol, tobacco, diet, mate drinking, and esophageal cancer in Argentina.

To study the role of hot mate drinking, alcohol, tobacco, and diet in esophageal cancer, a case-control study including 131 cases and 262 hospital controls was carried out in La Plata, Argentina. In multivariate analyses, statistically significant increases in risk were detected for alcohol, tobacco, and some dietary factors but not for hot mate drinking. A strong dose-response relationship was observed with the amount of alcohol consumed daily but not with the number of cigarettes smoked. The odds ratio for those drinking more than 200 ml of ethanol/day compared to nondrinkers was 5.7 (95% confidence interval, 2.2-15.2). An increased risk was also observed for those eating barbecued meat more than once a week (odds ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-4.8) as compared to those eating it less than once a week, and a reduction in risk was associated with daily consumption of nonbarbecued beef as compared to those eating it less than daily. Concerning mate drinking, the only variable that showed an effect was the temperature at which mate is drunk. Those who reported drinking mate hot or very hot as compared to those drinking it warm had an increase in risk (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.9). Our findings strengthen the evidence for an important role of alcohol and tobacco in esophageal carcinogenesis but do not provide strong support for a role of hot mate drinking.

[Macro-microscopic comparative study of gallbladder lesions in La Plata (Argentina)]. / Estudio comparativo macro-microscópico de las lesiones vesiculares en La Plata (Argentina).

The histogenesis of the gallbladder carcinoma is under controversy Some authors emphasize the polyp-cancer sequence, whereas others relate the adenocarcinoma with metaplastic and dysplastic changes. It is important to examine immediately the characteristics of the mucosa, in order for guidance to the surgeon at the operating room. With the purpose of correlating the macro-microscopic findings of gallbladder lesions, we studied 306 gallbladder specimens extended and fixed in formaline. We considered: Age, sex, lithiasis, dimensions of the specimens and macroscopic patterns of the mucosal surface. Longitudinal samples were taken for histological examination. Two hundred and thirty seven cases corresponded to female sex (77.4%) and 69 to male sex (22.5%) with an average age of 44 years. Among the microscopic findings, we found gastric metaplasia in 43% of the cases, intestinal metaplasia in 10.8%, low grade dysplasia in 11.8% and high grade dysplasia in 1.6%, and 2 cases of clinically unsuspected invasive carcinomas (0.6%). An association between chronic colecistitis, lithiasis and epithelial changes was confirmed, but the relation between each one of the macroscopic patterns proposed and the histological findings is statistically significant only in the cases of atrophy, probably owing to the overlapping of microscopic findings in the different macroscopic patterns.

Estudio comparativo macro-microscópico de las lesiones vesiculares en La Plata (Argentina). / [Macro-microscopic comparative study of gallbladder lesions in La Plata (Argentina)]

The histogenesis of the gallbladder carcinoma is under controversy Some authors emphasize the polyp-cancer sequence, whereas others relate the adenocarcinoma with metaplastic and dysplastic changes. It is important to examine immediately the characteristics of the mucosa, in order for guidance to the surgeon at the operating room. With the purpose of correlating the macro-microscopic findings of gallbladder lesions, we studied 306 gallbladder specimens extended and fixed in formaline. We considered: Age, sex, lithiasis, dimensions of the specimens and macroscopic patterns of the mucosal surface. Longitudinal samples were taken for histological examination. Two hundred and thirty seven cases corresponded to female sex (77.4

) and 69 to male sex (22.5

) with an average age of 44 years. Among the microscopic findings, we found gastric metaplasia in 43

of the cases, intestinal metaplasia in 10.8

, low grade dysplasia in 11.8

and high grade dysplasia in 1.6

, and 2 cases of clinically unsuspected invasive carcinomas (0.6

). An association between chronic colecistitis, lithiasis and epithelial changes was confirmed, but the relation between each one of the macroscopic patterns proposed and the histological findings is statistically significant only in the cases of atrophy, probably owing to the overlapping of microscopic findings in the different macroscopic patterns.