Accuracy Of Biopsy & Sampling Error

[steve-o]

When my biopsy results came back as "perfectly normal", I was very surprised and somewhat skeptical...so I asked that they mail me a copy of my pathology report.

It turns out that they only took 1 sample/biopsy from my small bowel. They also took a biopsy from my stomach, and one from the esophagus, but those were because of irritation due to reflux.

I've read that most people have "patchy" damage to the villi....meaning that the small bowel of a celiac is made up of patches of healthy villi, and patches of damaged villi. I've also read that because of this, your doctor should take a handful of biopsies from the small bowel, to avoid sampling error.

So it seems to me, that by only taking one sample...there's not a whole lot of scientific validity to my diagnosis of being "perfectly normal"?

Am I crazy for thinking this?

For those of you who have had biopsies done....do you know how many samples your biopsy included?

Thanks,

Steve

[KaitiUSA]

I have heard they usually take about 5...but at least 3.

The problem with a biopsy is...even if it comes back completely normal you can have celiac disease. The damage might not have occured yet or there is sporadic damage. I would get a full celiac panel with the EMA and tTG done because they are very specific for celiac.

and if those come back normal then maybe you just have an intolerance to gluten but not celiac...you should still go gluten free in that case and see how your body does with that

[Carriefaith]

Since villi damage can be patchy they should take more than 1 biopsy. I am pretty sure that they took several biopsies from my upper small intestine to diagnose me. If I were you, I would ask for another endoscopy and that they take at least 5 biopsies, especially if any of your blood tests come back positive. Good luck!