SMALL-BOWEL BIOPSY THROUGH AN ENTEROCLYSIS CATHETER TO AUGMENT FINDINGS AT ENTEROCLYSIS AND HYPOTONIC DUODENOGRAPHY

Proximal jejunal mucosal biopsy was performed by a radiologist through the nasojejunal catheter at the time of enteroclysis. Seventeen patie nts (10 men and seven women, aged 23-73 years [mean, 46 years]) were s tudied with enteroclysis because of clinical signs of malabsorption wi th suspected small bowel disease. In seven (41%) patients, results at biopsy were positive, and results in another seven (41%) were positive at enteroclysis. In 10 (59%) patients, results were positive at one o r both tests. Performance of both small bowel biopsy and enteroclysis at the same session is feasible and offers additional clinically perti nent information than can be obtained at enteroclysis alone.