Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Biopsy Pathology Report--No Marsh Level

ema2013

Recommended Posts

ema2013 Newbie
ema2013
Posted

I have my pathology report, and there is no mention of Marsh level.  Is this normal?  It does say, under final diagnosis, "severe mucosal lesion, consistent with celiac disease".  I thought all reports had to list the Marsh level.  There is a microscopic description on it though.  I'm new to celiac disease and am trying to figure this stuff out.  My GI was no help at all, other than to say "quit eating gluten".  Thanks for listening.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

Hi there!

 

No, Marsh Scale is rarely mentioned until the biopsies are level Marsh III.  This is because the first two stages can be attributed to things other than Celiac Disease.

 

Does this report mention "lymphcytes", "villi" or "crypts".  Sadly, there are many variations offered by pathology labs which can make it tough to understand their meaning.

 

I don't know your history, but if you have positive blood work, deficient nutrients, familial history of celiac or symptoms associated with celiac it is indeed time to remove all gluten from your world now that your biopsy is complete.

 

Good luck and let us know if you have more questions :)

ema2013 Newbie
ema2013
Posted
  • Author

Hi there!

 

No, Marsh Scale is rarely mentioned until the biopsies are level Marsh III.  This is because the first two stages can be attributed to things other than Celiac Disease.

 

Does this report mention "lymphcytes", "villi" or "crypts".  Sadly, there are many variations offered by pathology labs which can make it tough to understand their meaning.

 

I don't know your history, but if you have positive blood work, deficient nutrients, familial history of celiac or symptoms associated with celiac it is indeed time to remove all gluten from your world now that your biopsy is complete.

 

Good luck and let us know if you have more questions :)

I've been anemic for years (am 53).  The bloodwork was positive and the GI insisted on a colonoscopy and endoscopy.  The microscopic description on the pathology report says:  "Very few villi are visible, and these are significantly blunted.  For the most part, the biopsies superficially resemble colon.  Surface epithelium and crypt epithelium are remarkable for a noticeable lymphoid infiltrate, but lymphocytes are not present in large numbers.  The lamina propria has increased numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and probably eosinophils, with congestion of superficial capillaries.  Included muscularis mucosae and scant submucosa are unremarkable." 

My GI just said I had celiac and to quit eating gluten.  I guess I'm a little OCD; I would like to try to understand more about what I have.

GottaSki Mentor
GottaSki
Posted

I've been anemic for years (am 53).  The bloodwork was positive and the GI insisted on a colonoscopy and endoscopy.  The microscopic description on the pathology report says:  "Very few villi are visible, and these are significantly blunted.  For the most part, the biopsies superficially resemble colon.  Surface epithelium and crypt epithelium are remarkable for a noticeable lymphoid infiltrate, but lymphocytes are not present in large numbers.  The lamina propria has increased numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells, and probably eosinophils, with congestion of superficial capillaries.  Included muscularis mucosae and scant submucosa are unremarkable." 

My GI just said I had celiac and to quit eating gluten.  I guess I'm a little OCD; I would like to try to understand more about what I have.

 

There is absolutely no doubt, you have celiac disease -- welcome to the club...I'll ask the official greeter to get the super decoder ring in the mail ;)

 

Ok...joking aside -- the description provided from the report is absolutely describing celiac disease.  Why they did not reference the Marsh Scale is interesting.

 

I'm sorry your GI simply said you have celiac and quit eating gluten -- sadly this is far better advice than many doctors out there provide.  You have come to the right place to begin your new gluten-free life.  Let us know if you have any questions.

bartfull Rising Star
bartfull
Posted

Welcome! I think the first thing you should do is go to the coping section here and read the Newbie 101 thread. Be sure to click on all the links provided in the various posts in that thread. Keep a pen and paper handy to jot down any questions that arise, then come back and ask away. :)  

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

I am 52 and I was anemic. I requested a colonoscopy since all my friends were getting one! GI mentioned celiac and I was shocked. My husband has been gluten free for 13 years and I thought, "What are the odds that both of us have gluten issues?" Blood test mildly positive and my biopsy revealed severe damage. It has been a year and my anemia has resolved. I did fracture a vertebrae doing nothing three months after my celiac disease dx (osteoporosis), so I would recommend a bone scan.

Welcome!

moosemalibu Collaborator
moosemalibu
Posted

Welcome!

 

Your biopsy results are definitely a Celiac description. Coupled with the blood work and anemia that pretty much screams classic case. My biopsy results were not as clean and straight forward as yours appear.  The blunted villi, smooth appearance and infiltration of eosinophils is what they generally look for as hallmark histology. Definitely check out the newbie threads.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to HAUS's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      7

      Sainsbury's Free From White Sliced Bread - Now Egg Free - Completely Ruined It

      In the U.S., most regular wheat breads are required to be enriched with certain B-vitamins and iron, but gluten-free breads are not required to be. Since many gluten-free products are not enriched, we usually encourage people with celiac disease to consider a multivitamin. In the early 1900s, refined white flour replaced whole grains, and people began...
    2. Scott Adams
      - Scott Adams replied to deanna1ynne's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      13

      Inconclusive results

      Keep in mind that there are drawbacks to a formal diagnosis, for example more expensive life and private health insurance, as well as possibly needing to disclose it on job applications. Normally I am in favor of the formal diagnosis process, but if you've already figured out that you can't tolerate gluten and will likely stay gluten-free anyway, I wanted...
    3. JoJo0611
      - JoJo0611 replied to JoJo0611's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      6

      CT with contrast.

      Thank you.
    4. deanna1ynne
      - deanna1ynne replied to deanna1ynne's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      13

      Inconclusive results

      Thank you all so much for your advice and thoughts. We ended up having another scope and more bloodwork last week. All serological markers continue to increase, and the doc who did the scope said there villous atrophy visible on the scope — but we just got the biopsy pathology report back, and all it says is, “Duodenal mucosa with patchy increased int...
    5. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to HAUS's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      7

      Sainsbury's Free From White Sliced Bread - Now Egg Free - Completely Ruined It

      Thanks for this Russ, and good to see that it is fortified. I spend too much time looking for M&S gluten-free Iced Spiced Buns to have ever noticed this! That's interesting, Scott. Have manufacturers ever said why that should be the case?
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,438
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    rednecksurfer
    Newest Member
    rednecksurfer
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Sainsbury's Free From White Sliced Bread - Now Egg Free - Completely Ruined It

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      In the U.S., most regular wheat breads are required to be enriched with certain B-vitamins and iron, but gluten-free breads are not required to be. Since many gluten-free products are not enriched, we usually encourage people with celiac disease to consider a multivitamin.  In the early 1900s, refined white flour replaced whole grains, and people began developing serious vitamin-deficiency diseases: Beriberi → caused by a lack of thiamin (vitamin B1) Pellagra → caused by a lack of niacin (vitamin B3) Anemia → linked to low iron and lack of folate By the 1930s–40s, these problems were common in the U.S., especially in poorer regions. Public-health officials responded by requiring wheat flour and the breads made from it to be “enriched” with thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and iron. Folic acid was added later (1998) to prevent neural-tube birth defects. Why gluten-free bread isn’t required to be enriched? The U.S. enrichment standards were written specifically for wheat flour. Gluten-free breads use rice, tapioca, corn, sorghum, etc.—so they fall outside that rule—but they probably should be for the same reason wheat products are.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Keep in mind that there are drawbacks to a formal diagnosis, for example more expensive life and private health insurance, as well as possibly needing to disclose it on job applications. Normally I am in favor of the formal diagnosis process, but if you've already figured out that you can't tolerate gluten and will likely stay gluten-free anyway, I wanted to at least mention the possible negative sides of having a formal diagnosis. While I understand wanting a formal diagnosis, it sounds like she will likely remain gluten-free either way, even if she should test negative for celiac disease (Approximately 10x more people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity than have celiac disease, but there isn’t yet a test for NCGS. If her symptoms go away on a gluten-free diet, it would likely signal NCGS).        
    • JoJo0611
      CT with contrast.

      By JoJo0611 · Posted

      Thank you. 
    • deanna1ynne
      Inconclusive results

      By deanna1ynne · Posted

      Thank you all so much for your advice and thoughts. We ended up having another scope and more bloodwork last week. All serological markers continue to increase, and the doc who did the scope said there villous atrophy visible on the scope — but we just got the biopsy pathology report back, and all it says is, “Duodenal mucosa with patchy increased intraepithelial lymphocytes, preserved villous architecture, and patchy foveolar metaplasia,” which we are told is still inconclusive…  We will have her go gluten free again anyway, but how soon would you all test again, if at all? How valuable is an official dx in a situation like this?
    • cristiana
      Sainsbury's Free From White Sliced Bread - Now Egg Free - Completely Ruined It

      By cristiana · Posted

      Thanks for this Russ, and good to see that it is fortified. I spend too much time looking for M&S gluten-free Iced Spiced Buns to have ever noticed this! That's interesting, Scott.  Have manufacturers ever said why that should be the case?  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.