title: Diagnostic Yield of Microscopic Colitis in Open Access Endoscopy Center.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnostic yield in open access endoscopy has been evaluated which generally support the effectiveness and efficiency of open access endoscopy. With a few exceptions, diagnostic yield studies have not been performed in open access endoscopy for more specific conditions. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine the efficiency of open access endoscopy in the detection of microscopic colitis as compared to traditional referral via a gastroenterologist.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective search of the pathology database at the University of Missouri for specimens from a local open access endoscopy center was conducted via SNOMED code using the terms: "microscopic", "lymphocytic", "collagenous", "spirochetosis", "focal active colitis", "melanosis coli" and "histopathologic" in the diagnosis line for the time period between January 1, 2004 and May 25, 2006. Specimens and colonoscopy reports were reviewed by a single pathologist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 266 consecutive patients with chronic diarrhea and normal colonoscopies, the number of patients with microscopic disease are as follows: Lymphocytic colitis (n = 12, 4.5%), collagenous colitis (n = 17, 6.4%), focal active colitis (n = 15, 5.6%), and spirochetosis (n = 2, 0.4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnostic yield of microscopic colitis in this study of an open access endoscopy center does not differ significantly from that seen in major medical centers. In terms of diagnostic yield, open access endoscopy appears to be as effective in diagnosing microscopic colitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ellingson
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miick
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Faye
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hillard
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Five Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Abhishek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Choudhary
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Five Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine-Gastroenterology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Five Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bechtold
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diaz-Arias
keywords: Collagenous; Diagnostic yield; Lymphocytic; Microscopic colitis; Open access endoscopy