The value of full-thickness bowel biopsy in the management of acute intestinal pseudo-obstruction

A case of paraneoplastic syndrome leading to inflammatory neuropathy of the intestinal myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus and manifesting as an acute pseudo-obstruction is reported. Surgical intervention and full-thickness small bowel biopsy proved to be the only way to establish the reason for impaired intestinal motility and lead to the diagnosis of otherwise occult bronchial neoplasia. The value of full-thickness intestinal biopsy during negative laparotomy for suspected mechanical bowel obstruction is discussed.