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Diagnosis of Whipple's Disease by Rectal Biopsy
With a Report of Three Additional Cases
- CHARLES M. CARAVATI, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
- MELVIN LITCH, M.D.;
- BENJAMIN B. WEISIGER, M.D., F.A.C.P.;
- LIEUTENANT COMMANDER STUART RAGLAND; and
- HAROLD BERLINER, M.D.
- Requests for reprints should be addressed to Charles M. Caravati, M.D., 807 West Franklin Street, Richmond 20, Virginia.
Excerpt
Since Whipple's classic description in 1907 of the disease which bears his name, over 100 documented cases have been reported in the world literature (1). New hope for control and, possibly, cure of this disease has made early diagnosis imperative (2), while new methods of diagnosis have made this possible (3, 4).
Biopsies of peripheral nodes and peroral jejunal biopsy by various suction tubes and capsules have resulted in a definitive histological diagnosis in many cases.
Although Whipple was well aware of the multiple organ involvement, this has been reiterated by the finding of the typical foamy macrophages containing granular
Acknowledgment
The authors are indebted to Saul Kay, M.D., and Leroy Pearce, M.D., for their help in the histologic diagnosis, and to Barry Decker, M.D., for referring case 1 to us.
Summario in Interlingua
Viste que il es un facto acceptate que morbo de Whipple es un disordine generalisate characterisate per spumose macrophagos que es distribuite in practicamente omne le organos, le diagnose ha essite facite per histobiopsia in sitos distante ab le intestino tenue, per exemplo in peripheric nodos lymphatic.
In le tentativa de establir le diagnose per un plus simple manovra, nos ha effectuate un biopsia del mucosa rectal in 3 casos consecutive de morbo de Whipple, e in omne nos ha trovate macrophagos acceptante le tincturation de Schiff a acido periodic. Nos ha provate le presentia del morbo in omne le casos per biopsia peroral del intestino tenue o per laparotomia.
Nos ha studiate biopsias del mucosa rectal in cognoscite casos de morbo rectal, como per exemplo proctitis ulcerative, e in subjectos normal e ha trovate nulle caso con le characteristic macrophagos acceptante le tincturation de Schiff a acido periodic. Usque hodie nos ha incontrate nulle biopsias falsemente positive.
Article and Author Information
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From the Medical Services of the Medical College of Virginia and the McGuire Veterans Administration Hospital, Richmond, Virginia.
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- Received June 7, 1962.
- Accepted October 3, 1962.
