Reliability of the "immersion technique" during routine upper endoscopy for detection of abnormalities of duodenal villi in patients with dyspepsia

Abstract

Background: Upper endoscopy is not routinely performed to directly detect abnormalities of the duodenal villi. The reliability of the immersion technique for assessment of duodenal villi was evaluated in a series of patients with dyspepsia.

Methods: A total of 396 patients who were to undergo standard EGD for dyspeptic symptoms were enrolled. Patients with suspected malabsorption were excluded. By performing a "modified immersion technique," duodenal villi were scored as the following: definitely present, partially present, or definitely absent. Three duodenal biopsy specimens were obtained from each patient, and villi also were scored histologically as the following: normal, partial villous pattern, or total villous atrophy.

Results: Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the modified immersion technique for detection of total villous atrophy were 100%, 99.7%, 85.7%, and 100%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of modified immersion technique for detection of partial villous patterns were 75%, 99.5%, 60%, and 99.7%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for modified immersion technique detection of any villous abnormality (partial or total villous atrophy) were 90.9%, 99.5%, 83.3%, and 99.7%, respectively.

Conclusions: During standard EGD, duodenal evaluation by modified immersion technique can reliably detect abnormalities of duodenal villi. This simple diagnostic technique may be performed routinely during endoscopic exploration of duodenum.