What is a Stomach Biopsy?
What is a stomach biopsy? It’s a question that you may be asking yourself after being told by your doctor that you need to have one done. A stomach biopsy is sometimes referred to as a gastric biopsy. As someone who recent went through one, this is something that I can fully explain for the benefit of other people out there. So, what is a gastric biopsy?
What is gastric biopsy?
A stomach biopsy is a procedure during which tissue samples are taken from your stomach. In most instances, a gastric biopsy is carried out as part of an endoscopy. The samples that are collected are then to a laboratory for diagnosis.
Conditions that may require a stomach biopsy
That’s the answer to the question; what is a stomach biopsy? But what conditions require that a stomach biopsy be carried out in the first place? In my instance, I was suffering from chest pains. I had been having these pains for years. They would come and go.
After other tests, including an ECG and a chest Xray, had failed to locate the source of the problem, my doctor finally decided that I needed to get an endoscopy done. I was a bit dubious at first. The issue, I argued, was with my chest and not with my stomach.
Finally, I decided to go through with the endoscopy. To my surprise, it showed that I had gastritis. So, my doctor was right all along. Anyway, I have since learnt to manage my gastritis. You may be interested in reading my article on how to lessen gastritis pain.
In any case, chest pains are only one condition that may necessitate a stomach biopsy. The following are some conditions from which your doctor may order that you get a gastric biopsy;
- Heartburn
- Anemia
- Passing black stools
- A lack of appetite
- Stomach pain
- Discomfort in stomach
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
What diagnoses can be made following a stomach biopsy?
Those are the conditions that may necessitate a stomach biopsy. We have already noted that tissue that is collected is sent to the lab, where tests are carried out to determine the cause of your illness. The following are some of the diseases and conditions that can be diagnosed as a result of this process;
- Gastritis
- Peptic ulcers
- H-pylori infection
- Stomach cancer
- Celiac disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Infectious esophagitis
- Gastric polyps
How is a stomach biopsy carried out?
So far in this post we have answered the question; “what is as stomach biopsy?” But how are stomach biopsies carried out? We have already noted that a stomach biopsy is carried out during an endoscopy. That is what happened in my case.
During an endoscopy, a specialized tube is inserted into your upper stomach through your mouth. The procedure is usually not painful but can be uncomfortable. An endoscopy is carried out on an empty stomach. This allows your doctor to see the insides of your stomach.
As part of this process, tissue samples are collected. That’s what’s referred to as a stomach biopsy. The process of how the samples are collected may be slightly different depending on the type of endoscopic tool that the doctor is using.
In my case, the doctor inserted a tool into my stomach via the endoscopic tube. This tool was then used to snipe off tissue samples form my stomach. The tissue samples were immediately placed into a petri dish, before being taken to a laboratory.
The doctor in my particular case collected the samples from 3 areas. However, your case may be different, depending on what is detected in there. If abnormal growths are detected, as an example, more samples may be needed in different areas of the upper stomach.
Is a gastric biopsy painful?
You will definitely feel some pain when tissue samples are collected from your stomach. However, the pain is not that much. It feels as if someone is pinching off small parts of your stomach. Indeed, the discomfort from the endoscopy is usually more than the pain that you feel as the samples are collected.
Preparing for a stomach biopsy
Getting an endoscopy and a stomach biopsy done can be scary. However, there is really little to be worried about. Think of it as a process on the way to getting better. Knowing what’s really ailing you is better than staying in the dark. That’s how I felt.
After suffering from chest pains for so long, it was good to finally get a definitive answer as to what was ailing me. Your doctor will ask you not to eat or drink anything for a minimum 12 hours before the procedure is carried out. That’s because and endoscopy needs to be carried out on an empty stomach.
Side effects of a stomach biopsy
People generally get stomach biopsies as outpatients. It means you will be able to go back home immediately after the procedure, which usually takes no more than 5 minutes. Its likely that you will feel a bit of bloating after the endoscopy.
That’s from the air that is pumped into your stomach during the process. It may be better to wait an hour or so for the bloating to go away before eating. You may also feel a bit of soreness on your throat from the tube being passed into your stomach. That will go away after a day or two.
Risks from a stomach biopsy
Like any other medical procedures, there are some risks associated with stomach biopsies. However, these risks are very minimal. Though invasive, a gastric biopsy is usually very safe. There is a small risk of bleeding following the procedure. There is also the risk of infection.
But how do you know if something is wrong? Warning signs include vomiting, fever, chest pain, dark stool and stomach pain. Should these and other symptoms occur, you will need to go back to your doctor for an assessment.
Getting your results
You will get some of the results from an endoscopy immediately. Based on visual analysis, your doctor will be able to tell you what, if anything, is the likely cause of your condition. In my case, I was immediately told that I had gastritis; swelling in my upper stomach.
Results from a biopsy often come back after between 2 and 3 days. That’s because the tissue sample first needs to be cultured to detect issues. Your doctor will call you back when he or she gets the results. For me, it took 3 days for the results to come back.
They indicated that I had H-pylori, the bacteria that is now known to be the number one cause of peptic ulcers and gastritis. It was also noted that the tissue samples showed signs of swelling. Based on these results, I am now getting treated and I feel much better.
Summary
In this article, we answered the question; “what is a stomach biopsy.” We noted that a gastric biopsy, which is carried out as part of an endoscopy, is a procedure that allows a qualified medical professional to collect tissue samples from your upper stomach.
These samples are then send to a laboratory, where they are tested for the presence of various diseases. What was your experience with a stomach biopsy? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below or subscribe to our newsletter to get updates.