Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Purpose: The use of esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) in children has been increasing in recent years; however, unlike in adults, there are relatively few studies on its diagnostic value in the pediatric population. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic yield of EGD in children and to determine the importance of biopsy in cases with normal endoscopic appearance.Materials and methods: This retrospective study included 2,295 patients aged 1-17 years who underwent EGD at the Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic of Health Sciences University Antalya Training and Research Hospital between 2015 and 2022. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, endoscopic findings, and histopathological results were analyzed.Results: The most common presenting complaint was dyspepsia (41.9%). Among 762 patients with normal endoscopic findings, histopathological abnormalities were identified in 227 (29.7%), including 4 cases of eosinophilic esophagitis. In patients without endoscopic abnormalities in the stomach, 346 of 437 (79.2%) had histological abnormalities. Additionally, 289 of 1,250 (23.1%) patients with no duodenal abnormalities endoscopically showed histopathological changes.Conclusion: Significant histological abnormalities may be detected even when the mucosa appears normal endoscopically. Therefore, biopsies during pediatric EGD may provide additional diagnostic information even in normal-appearing mucosa, although not all histological abnormalities necessarily alter management.
Atalay et al. (Fri,) studied this question.