Small bowel biopsy through an enteroclysis catheter to augment findings at enteroclysis and hypotonic duodenography.

Abstract

Proximal jejunal mucosal biopsy was performed by a radiologist through the nasojejunal catheter at the time of enteroclysis. Seventeen patients (10 men and seven women, aged 23-73 years [mean, 46 years]) were studied with enteroclysis because of clinical signs of malabsorption with suspected small bowel disease. In seven (41%) patients, results at biopsy were positive, and results in another seven (41%) were positive at enteroclysis. In 10 (59%) patients, results were positive at one or both tests. Performance of both small bowel biopsy and enteroclysis at the same session is feasible and offers additional clinically pertinent information than can be obtained at enteroclysis alone.