An approach to duodenal biopsies
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network and Toronto Medical Laboratories, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Correspondence to:
S Serra
Department of Pathology, University Health Network and Toronto Medical Laboratories, 200 Elizabeth Street, 11th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada;stefano.serra{at}uhn.on.ca
- Accepted 2 February 2006
- Published Online First 5 May 2006
Abstract
The introduction of endoscopy of the upper digestive tract as a routine diagnostic procedure has increased the number of duodenal biopsy specimens. Consequently, the pathologist is often asked to evaluate them. In this review, a practical approach to the evaluation of a duodenal biopsy specimen is discussed. An overview of the handling of specimens is given and the normal histology and commonly encountered diseases are discussed. Finally, a description of commonly seen infections is provided, together with an algorithmic approach for diagnosis.
- CMSE, cow’s milk protein-sensitive enteropathy
- CMV, cytomegalovirus
- DGM, duodenal gastric metaplasia
- DPAS, diastase periodic acid Schiff
- EMA, endomysial antibodies
- EITCL, enteropathy-type intestinal T cell lymphoma
- GFD, gluten-free diet
- GSE, gluten-sensitive enteropathy
- H&E, haematoxylin–eosin
- IEL, intraepithelial lymphocyte
- IPSID, immunoproliferative small intestinal disease
- NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
- PAS, periodic acid Schiff
- V:C ratio, villous to crypt ratio
- TCR, T cell receptor
- tTGA, transglutaminase antibody
Footnotes
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Published Online First 10 May 2006
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Competing interests: None declared.
