title: Transpapillary biopsy in gallbladder disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic biopsy is routine in gastrointestinal disease; similarly, histopathologic diagnosis is desirable in gallbladder disease. In this study we examined the clinical usefulness and the problems associated with transpapillary gallbladder biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transpapillary gallbladder biopsy was attempted in 9 patients with gallbladder disease. After inserting a catheter sheath into the gallbladder using a guidewire via the transpapillary route without sphincterotomy, we inserted a biopsy forceps into the lumen of the sheath up to the gallbladder lumen and obtained specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We could obtain sufficient specimens for histopathologic diagnosis in 8 of 9 cases (88.9%). Of the 8 successful cases, targeted specimens were obtained in 7 (87.5%). Diagnostic accuracy with respect to malignant versus benign disease was 100% (2 of 2) and 83.3% (5 of 6), respectively. There were no complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transpapillary gallbladder biopsy is a clinically useful technique because it facilitates histopathologic diagnosis and therefore guides the choice of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, and Department of Gastroenterology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirooka
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naitoh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohhashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamao
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furukawa
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology*; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D013048:Specimen Handling