Endoscopic small bowel biopsy in children with a modified multipurpose biopsy tube

Small bowel biopsy is a difficult procedure in infants and children, and the authors describe a new technique. The Quinton multipurpose suction biopsy instrument is incorporated into an Olympus GIF-P2 fiberoptic endoscope to allow positioning of the biopsy capsule under direct visual control. Fourteen children, 2 months to 4 years of age, have been biopsied, and tissue was successfully obtained in 20 of 21 procedures. Nine of 21 endoscopic examinations of duodenal mucosa were abnormal and gave additional diagnostic information.