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Endoscopy/Biopsy question - can they tell by sight?

Alibu

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Alibu Apprentice
Alibu
Posted

Hi, I have an endoscopy scheduled on Thursday to confirm celiac.  I have a positive tTG IGA test but negative EMA.  I know they'll take some biopsies and those will take 1-2 weeks to come back, but can they see the damage by sight too?   Is it also possible to see absolutely no damage, but then the biopsies come back showing damage?

I'm just going crazy over here not knowing, LOL. 

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cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted
  On 12/19/2017 at 11:01 PM, Alibu said:

Hi, I have an endoscopy scheduled on Thursday to confirm celiac.  I have a positive tTG IGA test but negative EMA.  I know they'll take some biopsies and those will take 1-2 weeks to come back, but can they see the damage by sight too?   Is it also possible to see absolutely no damage, but then the biopsies come back showing damage?

I'm just going crazy over here not knowing, LOL. 

Expand Quote  

Sometimes the damage can be seen during the endoscopy, but often times it can not.  The damage is microscopic.  My biopsy revealed a Marsh Stage IIIB (moderate to severe patches) and yet my GI said that visually I looked fine.  Go figure!  

 

Alibu Apprentice
Alibu
Posted
  • Author
  On 12/19/2017 at 11:37 PM, cyclinglady said:

Sometimes the damage can be seen during the endoscopy, but often times it can not.  The damage is microscopic.  My biopsy revealed a Marsh Stage IIIB (moderate to severe patches) and yet my GI said that visually I looked fine.  Go figure!  

 

Expand Quote  

Oh wow!!  Ok, good to know, thank you!

GF-Cheetah Cub Contributor
GF-Cheetah Cub
Posted

"Is it also possible to see absolutely no damage, but then the biopsies come back showing damage?"

Yes.   This happened to my daughter.   After her endoscopy, the two doctor came to tell us that they did not see damage.   But two weeks later, the doctor called to tell us that her biopsies came back positive.   So, just sit tight and wait for the official biopsies result.

squirmingitch Veteran
squirmingitch
Posted

Ditto what they said. Doctors can rarely actually see the damage it's so microscopic in nature. You really have to wait for the pathology to come back. Once in a while docs will see general inflammation but they can't see the minute details of the villi.

RMJ Mentor
RMJ
Posted

My GI, who is a researcher at a university hospital, had a very good endoscope with enough magnification to see my blunted villi.  I believe there is also some technique involved.  But as others have said, things can be visually ok and still have damage seen under a microscope.

Victoria1234 Experienced
Victoria1234
Posted

But you can start the gluten-free diet now!

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