Capsule Endoscopy
(Wireless Capsule Endoscopy)
Medical Author: Jay W. Marks, MD
Medical Editor:
Dennis Lee, MD
Introduction
Modern endoscopic techniques have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment
of diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, and
duodenum) and the colon. The last remaining frontier has been the small
intestine.
The small intestine has been a difficult organ in which to make diagnoses and treat without
performing surgery. Radiological procedures, specifically the upper GI series with
small bowel
follow–through, which involves following swallowed barium as it passes through
the intestine with x–ray films, have been available for diagnosis, but
these radiological procedures are time–consuming and are not accurate in
identifying small tumors and other subtle abnormalities of the small intestine. The
demand for improved capabilities in the small intestine has been less because a
minority of intestinal diseases involve the small intestine beyond the reach of
the upper gastrointestinal endoscope and the colonoscope. Nevertheless, improved
diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in the small intestine would be very
useful, particularly in uncovering the causes of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and
anemia due to
intestinal loss of blood and diagnosing diseases that may involve only the small
intestine, for example, Crohn's disease. One of the newer technologies that
expands the diagnostic capabilities in the small intestine is capsule endoscopy
also known as wireless capsule endoscopy.
Next: What is capsule endoscopy? »
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From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
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- Crohn's Disease - Learn about Crohn's Disease and the causes, symptoms (including abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, fever, rectal bleeding, and more) and treatment of this chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines. Source:MedicineNet
- Anemia - Learn what Anemia is, detection, symptoms, causes, and treatment Source:MedicineNet
- Non-Hodgkins Lymphomas - Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system. Symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, coughing, weakness, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, and abdominal pain. Treatment depends on which type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma you have, the stage of the cancer, your age, how fast the cancer is growing, and whether you have other health problems. Source:Government
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