Atypical diagnosis diagnosis by endoscopic capsule: Whipple's disease

Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 2016 Mar;108(3):158-62. doi: 10.17235/reed.2015.3718/2015.

Abstract

Whipple's disease is a chronic systemic infection produced by the actinomycete Tropheryma whipplei. Endoscopic tests are key in the diagnosis as they allow biopsy and histopathological examination for definitive diagnosis of this entity. We present a case of Whipple's disease where capsule endoscopy, uncommon for the diagnosis of this condition, was essential for it and its performance before and after antibiotic treatment allows to describe the macroscopic evolution of the findings in the small bowel. This case illustrates the utility of capsule endoscopy to allow complete examination of the small bowel disease in which up to 30% of patients may present with normal endoscopy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Capsule Endoscopes
  • Capsule Endoscopy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Intestine, Small / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Whipple Disease / diagnostic imaging*
  • Whipple Disease / drug therapy