2nd colonoscopy/ biopsy

Bama12 · Post by **Bama12** » Mon May 06, 2013 11:26 am

Is there any reason for a 2nd biopsy?
I was diagnosed in Dec'12
Have taken Asacol for 3 month
Gluten free for about 6-7 weeks

Would a new biopsy still show MC?

Might have to go through procedure for 2nd opinion
And help with my fight against Metlife and my
Short Term Disability denial.

Leah · Post by **Leah** » Mon May 06, 2013 11:38 am

If you already got an MC diagnosis, I wouldn't think you need another. Yes, I think a new one would also show MC. It never really goes away.

Post by **tex** » Mon May 06, 2013 1:22 pm

Lynn wrote:Is there any reason for a 2nd biopsy?

I agree with Leah. While it's common for doctors to fail to diagnose MC when it exists, It's virtually impossible to diagnose MC when it does not exist — that just doesn't happen. Therefore if MC has been previously diagnosed, there is no logical reason for another exam to verify or deny the original diagnosis.

In view of these facts, IMO the only reason for a second colonoscopy/biopsy exam would be in a case where the pathologist failed to diagnose MC the first time. Once it is diagnosed, a dissenting second opinion is meaningless, because the disease is for life, whether it is active or not.

Lynn wrote:Would a new biopsy still show MC?

Probably, after such a short treatment period. However, after several years or more of healing, provided that the disease is inactive, the diagnostic markers of MC will slowly fade away until they no longer meet the criteria for a positive diagnosis. That does not mean that the patient no longer has MC, it simply means that the disease has been in remission long enough for the gut to substantially heal, so that essentially normal histology has returned.

Followup colonoscopies so close to the first one (within roughly 5 years) are virtually always of no value to the patient, but doctors love to do colonoscopies, because they pay very well for the relatively small amount of time required to do them. Some doctors will claim that they are looking for another IBD, or cancer, or whatever, but if any of those were present, they would have certainly showed up on the first exam.

Tex