Malabsorption other diagnostic studies
Malabsorption |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Other Diagnostic Studies
Radiological Studies
- Barium follow through is useful in delineating small intestinal anatomy. Barium enema may be undertaken to see colonic or ileal lesions.
- CT abdomen is useful in ruling out structural abnormality, done in pancreatic protocol when visualising pancreas.
- MRCP to complement or as an alternative to ERCP
Interventional Studies
- Endoscopy is frequently undertaken, but to visualise small intestine which can be up to 7m long is indeed a daunting task.
- OGD to reveal duodenal lesion also for D2 biopsy (for celiac disease, tropical sprue, Whipple disease, A-b-lipoproteinemia etc.)
- Enteroscopy for enteropathy and jejunal aspirate and culture for bacterial overgrowth
- Colonoscopy is helpful in colonic or ileal lesion.
Other Investigations
- Radio isotope tests e.g. 75SeHCAT, 95mTc to exclude terminal ileal disease.
- Sugar probes or sub 51Cr-EDTA to determine intestinal permeability[1].
- Glucose hydrogen breath test for bacterial overgrowth
- D-xylose absorption test. lower level in urine after ingestion indicates bacterial overgrowth or reduced absorptive surface. normal in pancreatic insufficiency.
- Bile salt breath test to determine bile salt malabsorption.
- Schilling test to establish cause of B12 deficiency.
- Lactose H2 breath test for lactose intolerance