Question About Biopsy

[elbar]

I had an endoscopy and biopsy last week and am now awaiting the results. The doctor said initially, after doing the endoscopy, that he didn't see any evidence of celiac disease. What I would like to know is, will the biopsy show anything that the endoscopy doesn't show? Just what does a biopsy look for and how long do you have to have been on a gluten challenge for the biopsy to tell anything?

I was diagnosed with celiac disease 62 years ago and after 8 years on a special diet, my family was told I was cured. Now I know that there is no cure but my g.i. doctor said he doesn't think I ever had celiac disease! I'm sure my parents would have disagreed with him!

I'm pretty sure I have Dermatitis Herpetiformis because I do have all the symptoms of classic DH but in all these 54 years, I have not had intestinal problems associated with celiac disease. If I had damaged my intestines over these 54 years, will the biopsy be able to see that? My next step is a skin biopsy. One of the reasons the doctor is so sure I don't have celiac disease is that I feel great on a gluten diet but as soon as I went on a gluten-free diet, I started to feel miserable with constant stomach problems. I'm not sure what the answer will turn out to be, but to quote my doctor, "I'm an interesting patient".

Any advice will be welcomed. Thanks in advance.

elbar

[floridanative]

I'm no expert but I thought the endoscopy was just the means by which the biopsy was done. The tissue taken is sent to a lab for testing and they if it shows your villi are damaged, you should get a diagnosis of celiac disease.

More knowledgeable people will post soon I'm sure and I have my own question for them. I just found out I had some blood test result that indicates a possible genetic problem that can cause my iron def. anemia so I'm seeing a hemotologist before doing the biopsy. But when I get the biopsy, can the villi show damage if gluten has only been affecting me for just over a year? If I do have celiac disease I know it was triggered to kick in last year when I thought I was dying from complications from shingles. I was never in danger of dying but I certainly thought I was. After I got better last summer, I never felt really good again. It took me until this spring to get the dx for anemia. So I guess I'd like to know if my villi could show damage in such a short time. If not, I don't see the purpose of doing this test right now. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Tiffany M.

[jerseyangel]

I had my endoscopy done in June. The Dr. can see inflammation as he did in mine. Good luck with your results, elbar!

[KaitiUSA]

Usually when they do an endoscopy they will do a biopsy and take samples to see if there is damage.

However, endoscopies and biopsies can rule celiac in but not out. You see if there is sporadic damage they can easily miss it and if you are in early stages and there is no damage yet then it can also show negative.

An endoscopy usually only looks at the first part of the intestines....but there could be damage elsewhere in your intestines...your intestines are huge and they can easily miss if there is damage. A biopsy is a hit and miss as well because they only take a few samples in certain places ofyour intestines and again they miss alot and there can be damage elsewhere...you should also have a blood test done.

If you were diagnosed before then you have it I would say...there is no cure. Your symptoms may have been better at some point but that means nothing when it comes to celiac. You don't have to have any specific symptoms...everyone varies with that ...some people get none at all.

You may want to get a complete panel blood test for celiac done. You do need to be eating gluten through all testing. You should eat equal to 2-3 pieces of bread a day for 3 months before testing.

You also may want to get a biopsy of the skin to see if you have DH.

[skoki-mom]

Hi there!

It is definitley possible to have damage and not have GI symptoms! I'm a case of this. I got screened because my sis was Dx with celiac disease. Well, I definitely have celiac disease on my bloodwork and my biopsy, and in fact I have substantial damage. I was pretty surprised because I've never really been sick with it a day in my life. Sure, I got gas once in a while, but I think it's safe to say that even people without celiac disease get gas on occasion! I never had any issues that would make me think I had a problem with my intestines.

The biopsy looks at your villi under a microscope, and they are specifically looking for flattening of the villi, which is the mark of celiac disease. I have seen my pathology, and I had biopsies taken from all 3 parts of my small bowel...the duodenum, jejunum and ileum.

Just for what it's worth, I'm 35, so I've been doing damage for Lord knows how long, and if my sister hadn't become ill, I would never know I had this problem. My GI says there is no way to know if I would have ever shown symptoms of celiac disease, or if I just would have gone through life never knowing. However, the risks associated with untreated celiac disease were enough for me to go gluten-free quite willingly. I have 2 terrific kids and I plan to live a long and healthy life with them!

[Wandering Hermit]

Well I just got back from an endoscopy about 2 hours ago.

It went SO much better than the last time!

The squeeky wheel gets the grease. I complained about how my previous endoscopy did not involve enough sedation. This time they doped me up so good that I don't remember any of it! Not the part where you bite down on that mouthpeice, or the throat spray, or getting the scope past the mouth, nothing!! I am so happy that they finally did it right. I could do this any old day. And I might be doing it again because if the biposy comes back normal it will be time for a gluten challenge and then possibly another biposy.

And now if you will excuse me I am going to go enjoy the rest of my drug-induced stupor.

[floridanative]

And now if you will excuse me I am going to go enjoy the rest of my drug-induced stupor.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Rachel--24]

  Wandering Hermit said:

Well I just got back from an endoscopy about 2 hours ago.

It went SO much better than the last time! 

I complained about how my previous endoscopy did not involve enough sedation. This time they doped me up so good that I don't remember any of it!  Not the part where you bite down on that mouthpeice, or the throat spray, or getting the scope past the mouth, nothing.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wow! No wonder you were dreading the scope so much! I didn't know you were partially awake last time!

I cannot even imagine being awake for all that...

I remember the mouthpiece and getting sprayed but right after that I was out. I would have been terrified if I had even *seen* the tube....let alone feeling them put it down my throat. The sedation made it so easy....it was like taking a really good nap...I would do it again just for the deep sleep!

[Wandering Hermit]

  floridanative said:

Oh I'm so relieved to hear you had a good experience. I for some reason thought I had to be awake and was totally dreading it. Now I can stop worrying about it for the next five weeks.

Enjoy your stupor!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just be sure to tell them that you wish to be well-sedated.

I am so happy because I was really dreading it - and I literally remember nothing at all about it.

[Wandering Hermit]

  Rachel--24 said:

Wow! No wonder you were dreading the scope so much! I didn't know you were partially awake last time! 

I cannot even imagine being awake for all that...

I remember the mouthpiece and getting sprayed but right after that I was out. I would have been terrified if I had even *seen* the tube....let alone feeling them put it down my throat. The sedation made it so easy....it was like taking a really good nap...I would do it again just for the deep sleep! 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would say my first time I was fully awake. It was a truly awful experience. 5 minutes of continuous gagging. So it is nice to finally see what it is like when it is done right. It was a piece of cake.