Rapid jejunal biopsy without radiological screening.

Abstract

Thirty patients had jejunal biopsy performed by Crosby Capsule in conjunction with a fibre-optic endoscope. Ten patients were radiologically screened initially to check that the capsule had attained a jejunal position using a standardised method and 20 patients had biopsy performed subsequently without screening. Jejunal biopsies were obtained in 19 patients in the unscreened group. Premature capsule firing in stomach resulted in one failure. It is concluded that this technique permits rapid, reliable jejunal biopsy. Patients requiring this investigation can be included on routine endoscopy lists.