A GP primer for understanding upper gastrointestinal tract biopsy reports

Endoscopic biopsies of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract are taken to make a diagnosis of inflammation, dysplasia or malignancy, to assess treatment success and monitor patients' progress.

This article provides a guide to understanding histology reports sent to general practitioners (GPs) from endoscopy and anatomical pathology providers for the diagnosis of increasingly prevalent upper GI diseases.

Many upper GI diseases are increasing in prevalence and new diseases are emerging that require biopsy for diagnosis. Oesophageal disease (particularly gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic oesophagitis) and coeliac disease (real and perceived wheat sensitivity) are common. However, infection with Helicobacter pylori is declining. Drugs can also affect the GI tract, and endoscopy can detect damage with biopsy confirmation.