title: [Biopsies of the endoscopically normal colon].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The importance of biopsies of the endoscopically normal colonic mucosa is controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who underwent total colonoscopy at St. Olav"s Hospital in 2004 were considered for inclusion if their colonoscopy was normal. Patients who were already enrolled in follow-up protocols were excluded. Biopsy practice and histological findings were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biopsies were taken in 266 of 738 normal colonoscopies (36%) The number of biopsies per colonoscopy varied from 1 to 16 (median 6). Biopsies from 8 of the 266 patients (3.0%) showed histological abnormalities of certain clinical significance. Seven of the 8 patients were investigated because of diarrhoea. In addition, histological abnormalities of limited clinical significance were found in biopsies from 13 of the patients (4.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of biopsy in the endoscopically normal colon varied considerably. Taking biopsies in patients without diarrhoea was of minor clinical importance. Guidelines for taking biopsies of the endoscopically normal colon are desirable.
authors.affiliation: Det medisinske fakultet, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, 7489 Trondheim. borgel@stud.ntnu.no
authors.forename: Børge
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lillebo
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Dybdahl
authors.forename: Ivar S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Nordrum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic