Enteroscopy

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Small intestine biopsy

Small bowel biopsy; Push enteroscopy; Double-balloon enteroscopy; Capsule enteroscopy; Sonde enteroscopy

In a normal test result, the health care provider will not find sources of bleeding in the small bowel, and will not find any tumors or other abnormal tissue.

Abnormal findings may include:

• Abnormalities of the tissue lining the small intestine (mucosa) or the tiny, finger-like projections on the surface of the small intestine (villi)
• Immune cells called PAS-positive macrophages
• Polyps or cancer
• Radiation enteritis
• Swollen or enlarged lymph nodes or lymphatic vessels
• Ulcers

Changes found on enteroscopy may be signs of disorders and conditions including:

• Amyloidosis
• Celiac sprue
• Crohn's disease
• Folate or vitamin B12 deficiency
• Giardiasis
• Infectious gastroenteritis
• Lymphangiectasia
• Lymphoma
• Tropical sprue
• Whipple's disease

Review Date: 01/20/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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