Morphometry of normal duodenal mucosa.

The morphometric variability of normal duodenal mucosa was assessed in bioptic specimens obtained from bulb, second and third duodenum. Biopsies were obtained from 82 cases ranging in age from 18 to 67 years. The results demonstrate a great variability in villous shape and height without mean height differences in relation with age of subjects or site of biopsies. Subvillous thickness of lamina propria, intraepithelial lymphocyte count, inflammatory cell count in lamina propria and goblet cell number did not show significant differences. Superficial gastric metaplasia was seen in 8.5% of bulbar biopsies, 3.6% of biopsies taken in the second duodenum but it was constantly absent in the third duodenum. Brunner's glands above the muscularis mucosa were seen in 45% of bulbar biopsies, 23% of biopsies of second duodenum and in 4.6% of biopsies of third duodenum.