[Intestinal biopsy: fiberscopy or Watson's capsule?]

We compared the results of 100 fiberendoscopic small bowel biopsies (F) with those of 100 Watson capsule biopsies (W). Three to 6 specimens were obtained during endoscopy. The F biopsy fragments were deeper than the W biopsies (P less than 0.001). The F biopsies were more often located in the duodenum than the W biopsies. The failure rate of the F biopsies (3%) was lower than for the W biopsies (12%): P less than 0.02. Multiple biopsies increased the diagnostic value of fiberendoscopy, which was 85% in our experience versus 77% for Watson capsule. The duration of the endoscopic procedure, available in 15 children, was 6.5 min for 4 to 6 samples, i.e. 1.5 min by specimen. Small bowel fiberendoscopy appears to be a safe and accurate method for performing small bowel biopsies in infants and children.