Preliminary trial of jumbo biopsy using newly developed fiberscope

Abstract

Specimens obtained by conventional forceps biopsy technique are not always adequately large, but also deeply excised. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that many parts of specimens are destroyed with this method. To clarify the etiology and the pathophysiology of chronic gastritis, jumbo biopsy, that is, suction biopsy under direct vision by fiberscope, was deviced. In this preliminary study, we used a therapeutical fiberscope FGS-XI which has a channel, 5mm in diameter, for a large forceps. This fiberscope is 80cm in length with 13mm in diameter. Biopsy forceps is 3.2mm in diameter with 12mm in lenght, and has a channel for suction of gastric mucosa on one side. The end of the internal silinder is a cutter for excision of gastric mucosa. Suction for biopsy was done with pressure of 30-60cm Hg. The mean diameter of excised tissue was about 4mm, although the largest one was 8.3mm in diameter. Muscularis mucosa was seen in all specimens, and sometimes submucosal tissue. These specimens were adequately large, being enough for this study. However, observation of the fornix and the lesser curvature was difficult, because the fiberscope was somewhat large and rigid. © 1980, Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society. All rights reserved.