Mucosal biopsy of the esophagus, stomach, and proximal duodenum.

The past decade has occasioned the development and extensive use of flexible endoscopes for visualization of large areas of the alimentary tract. Numerous small grasp biopsies are now performed to determine the diagnosis and course of a large variety of inflammatory and neoplastic disorders. In this review, the authors have concentrated on the uses and interpretation of endoscopy and biopsy of the upper alimentary tract including the esophagus, stomach, and proximal duodenum. They have also commented on the limitations of endoscopic biopsy with respect to its size, superficial nature, and imperfect orientation in the evaluation of some disorders.