Celiac disease. "To biopsy or not to biopsy. That is the question!"

Great progress has been made in the field of celiac disease (CD). During the past 50 years we have come to understand a great deal about the pathogenesis, clinical spectrum, and treatment. Great advances have been made in the technology of diagnosing CD. Heretofore, the gold standard used for diagnosis of CD is the small intestinal biopsy. The European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition has recently issued guidelines that state that some patients do not require a biopsy for diagnosis. This review traces the history of CD with a particular attention to the evolution of the technology involved in the field. The question of the need for biopsy or not is discussed.