Intractable diarrhea: value of the small intestinal biopsy

In summarizing their article on intractable diarrhea of infancy Rossi et al1 stated, "a small bowel biopsy is useful in assessing the degree of injury present and guiding nutritional support." We concur that the small bowel biopsy is useful in assessing mucosal injury but has certain limit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatrics (Evanston) 1981-09, Vol.68 (3), p.470-471
Main Authors: Byrne, W J, Euler, A R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biopsy
Diarrhea, Infantile - pathology
Humans
Infant
Intestine, Small - pathology
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:In summarizing their article on intractable diarrhea of infancy Rossi et al1 stated, "a small bowel biopsy is useful in assessing the degree of injury present and guiding nutritional support." We concur that the small bowel biopsy is useful in assessing mucosal injury but has certain limitations. The authors used the Crosby-Krugler capsule, which obtains two small pieces of tissue, in close proximity. This limits the sensitivity of the technique as the specimens are not necessarily representative of the mucosal state of the entire small intestine nor do they allow exclusion of a patchy villous lesion.2
ISSN:0031-4005
1098-4275
DOI:10.1542/peds.68.3.470a