PERORAL ENDOSCOPIC DUODENAL BIOPSY IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN

Abstract
Peroral endoscopic duodenal biopsy was used in the diagnosis and follow-up of 45 infants and children with suspected small intestinal disease. Their ages ranged between 1 mo. and 12 yr. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures (54) were performed and 139 biopsies were taken. The mean procedure time was 3.2 min with a range of 1.5-5.5 min. There were no complications. Tissue adequate for histopathologic examination was obtained in all but 1 of the 54 procedures. On the basis of this experience, peroral endoscopic duodenal biopsy apparently is faster, safer and as diagnostic as conventional suction biopsy in infants and children. It is also more informative when other diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract are suspected.