Is jejunal biopsy valuable in the elderly?

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Internal Medicine
• Geriatric Medicine

Background:

• Jejunal biopsy is an invasive diagnostic procedure.
• Its utility in elderly patients requires evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the diagnostic yield and value of jejunal biopsy in patients aged 65 years and older.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of patient records undergoing jejunal biopsy.
• Analysis of biopsy success rates and diagnostic yield.
• Evaluation of conditions confirmed by biopsy.

Main Results:

• Biopsy failed in 4 out of 52 cases (approximately 7.7%).
• The overall diagnostic yield was low at 12%.
• The procedure was primarily valuable for diagnosing gluten-sensitive enteropathy (adult celiac disease).

Conclusions:

• Jejunal biopsy has a limited diagnostic yield in patients over 65.
• Its primary utility in this age group is for confirming adult celiac disease.
• Consideration of alternative diagnostic methods may be warranted for the elderly.