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Small bowel tissue smear - Overview

Definition of Small bowel tissue smear:

Small bowel tissue smear is a laboratory test that checks for disease in a sample of tissue from the small intestine.

How the test is performed:

A sample of tissue from the small intestine is removed during a procedure called esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). For more information on this procedure, see EGD.

The sample is sent to a laboratory, where it is sliced, stained, and placed on a microscope slide for examination.

How to prepare for the test:

For information on how to prepare for the removal of tissue from your small intestine, see EGD.

How the test will feel:

For information on how it will feel to have a sample of intestinal tissue removed, see EGD.

Why the test is performed:

Your doctor may order this test if you have signs or symptoms of an infection or other disease of the small intestine. In most cases, this test is only done when a diagnosis was not able to be made from stool and blood tests.

Small intestine tissue sample

Reviewed last on: 11/2/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Semrad CE, Powell DW. Approach to the patient with diarrhea and malabsorption. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 143.

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